Former PBA players and now newbie coaches Ronald Tubid and Willy Wilson didn’t wait long enough to score their first career victory as coaches in Asia’s pioneering professional league and on Sunday night, they were able to pull off big victories against their more favored rivals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Tubid and his Terrafirma Dyip breezed past the NLEX Road Warriors, 97-91, as unknown JM Bravo stepped up big and rewarded the rookie mentor his first win in the pros.
A sixth round selection by the Dyip, the unheralded player from Lyceum knocked in 18 points to go along with eight rebounds while helping Terrafirma in holding off a late rally by NLEX.
“This win is very important for the team because yung first game namin, medyo yung mga bata very excited. They know na kaya nila, so credit to the coaches on preparing them. Once nahanda ng mga coaches ang mga bata na kaya nilang manalo, tyinaga namin talaga,” added Tubid. “Sabi ng mga coaches, although we’re undersize as long as we compete, may chance kaming manalo.”
Tubid admitted that the team was hastily-prepared and they have a group of young coaches.
“Yung team namin, bata, including the coaches. Dito talaga, it has to be fast-tracked. Almost a month lang halos yung preparation,” he added. “But we will continue to compete, para magkaroon kami ng chance manalo.”
Wilson, on the other hand, drew some inspiration from the his player, Ricci Rivero, in leading the Phoenix Fuel Masters to a 109-103 triumph over the mighty defending champion San Miguel Beermen, who just absorbed their second loss in as many games.
The connection between Wilson and Rivero goes way, way back.
As a kid growing up, Rivero saw Wilson being coached by his dad, Paolo, at La Salle and now the four-time champion of the Green Archers is trying to repay the trust being given to him by the younger player who gave an unsolicited advice to his rookie coach.
“As a coach, you wanted the players to react kahit hindi ako sumisigaw. Sumigaw ako kanina. Ayaw ko maging ganyan. But the moment calls for it. Kanina, kinausap ako ni Ricci (Rivero) sa practice. Since he was in grade school, kilala ko na ito. Tatay niya, coach ko nung player pa ako. Lumapit siya sa akin and sinabi niya, ‘Coach, do you think that you should shout more?’ Sabi ko, ‘hindi naman ako ganyan.’ As a first time head coach, malaki yan sa akin, kasi he comes to me and make a suggestion like that. It takes bravery. So I really thought about it and time called for it kanina,” said Wilson.
Wilson fired up the team and Rivero led the players’ response with a good all-around game.
Rivero finished with 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds while also dishing out three assists.
Tyler Tio contributed 14 points, the same output produced by Kyle Ballungay, who also pulled down eight boards. OIld reliable Jason Perkins contributed 13 in a display of balance firepower by the Fuel Masters.
Curiously, Phoenix outscored a deeper San Miguel second unit by 10, 59-49.
“It’s very significant even without talking about the 10-game losing streak,” added Wilson, giving importance to this win, both for the team and on a personal level. “We have the ability to beat a champion team like San Miguel., The players know that.”
