Don Dulay started the Pilipinas Super League’s new season as an extra voice at the Nueva Ecija Capitals’ bench.
Now he’s back in mainstream coaching scene, leading his new squad immediately to a finals run.
A two-time champion coach of the Davao Occidental Tigers, a team he led to titles in the MPBL and PSL, Dulay moved a few steps closer to winning his latest crown and seeing him back within grasp of capturing another diadem was a surreal moment.
Personally, Dulay had every reason to cherish, but so are the remaining members of the Capitals who stayed on and battled adversities in the midst of coaching changes, player movements and adjustments to a new system.
“It was so surreal, we didn’t expect this. I’ve got to give it to the management, the Cuevas family. They showed 100% support ever since. It was my job to get the guys going and the players stepped up. I’ve got to give all the credit to them,” said Dulay.
Under Dulay, the Capitals were able to sweep the San Juan Kings in their best-of-three semifinals series and the coach who knows their old rivals so well, banked on that familiarity in completing yet another huge win in a series against a team owned by Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
“It feels good that we can come out and beat San Juan. It definitely helped (our familiarity with them). We know each other’s tendencies,” added Dulay.
Dulay and the rest of his new troops will have to regather to battle a young and deadlier Quezon team, which also pulled off a stunning series win over Biñan, another powerhouse squad, which emerged as the No.1 team in the elimination round.
“Moving forward, we hope we can do the same thing against Quezon,” said “I expect a war against Quezon. They’ve got a young core there. They’ve got (Ximone) Sandagon, (LJ) Gonzales and they have a good and experienced coaching staff. We’ve got to come out ready. We’re happy that we won against San Juan, but it’s not over yet. “
