Life goes on for coach Cholo Villanueva.
Not even a brain surgery could stop the veteran coach for continuously pursuing the game he loves months after surviving this life-threatening incident.
“Maybe God has a bigger purpose for me and he wants me to continue carrying my love and passion for the game that’s why I’m still coaching right now and continue becoming a blessing to others,” Villanueva told Pinoystep.com in a telephone interview.
“Mas mai-stress siguro ako if I won’t continue coaching and detaching myself from the game I love.”
A nasty fall during a pick up game a few months where Villanueva dropped hard and hit his head on the floor resulted to a serious head ache, which manisfested about a month later.
Villaneuva recalled how he was able to coach a game in the MPBL, but went home feeling a nagging headache the moment he went home.
“I was able to coach a game against Biñan, but I was already feeling some serious headache and when I went home, that’s when I threw up, feeling the effects of that serious headache,” added Villanueva.
According to Villanueva, they initially went on a procedure where they have to drain some fluids and avoid clotting, but needed to undergo surgery later on.
“The good thing was, I didn’t suffer stroke, which might have complicated things more, so God was really good,” he added.
“I’m now back coaching, but less physical activities.”
Despite the challenges he and his family went through, Villanueva still pursued his vision of providing a platform for lady ballers, hence the launching of the Pilipina Prime Basketball League.
PPBL is the first ever alumni basketball league for women, reuniting players who saw action in the UAAP and WNCAA among others.
Villanueva is back in the game and the PPBL has just begun.