Collegiate Hoops Scoop Part 1
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Finally!!! After a 0-14 UAAP season, doing the unthinkable by booting out a legendary basketball coach, and for months sitting and wondering how the centennial team will perform in UAAP Season 71, the University of the Philippines named National Team assistant coach Aboy Castro as the next head coach of the UP Men’s Basketball Team. Castro assumes the position left vacant by the sacking of multi titled coach Joe Lipa late last year.Aboy Castro, who is relatively unknown as far as basketball aficionados are concerned, brings with him an approach that may be considered “fresh” for the UP MBT. Aside from him being an assistant coach of the national basketball team, Castro is also a member of the coaching staff of the Talk and Text Phone Pals in the PBA. The incoming coach graduated from UP with a degree in chemical engineering, so definitely he will be inspiring his players not only to do better in court, but to do well in the classroom as well.
We in inboundpass.com wish Aboy Castro and the UP MBT all the best. And we hope that the UP community will finally come together and support the team UNCONDITIONALLY. (For more on Aboy Castro, please check out the interview on him, available in the podcast section).
Also, I’m glad to see that the SBP-BAP has finally set up a program that will hopefully place the country in the Olympics in the years to come. The idea is to form a team composed of the the best young players in the country, train them, have them compete together and watch them grow together, similar to basketball programs of countries like Iran and Argentina. A couple of international events are lined up for the team’s participation- the SEABA Youth in Malaysia in May and the FIBA Asian Youth Championship in September in Iran.
The team is mainly composed of high school standouts, with a couple (or so) coming from the seniors rank. It was reported that these players have given their 100% commitment to the team and the country. They even got themselves a big company to sponsor the program.
But how about their commitment to their schools? As early as now, there are reports that some schools are actually uneasy with the arrangements that the players will forego their commitment to the schools so that they can play for the country. I understand some of these schools were not consulted with the arrangement.
If this is true, there will be problems between the schools and the SBP/BAP. For one, how will these athletes finish their studies in the schools where they are also committed to play? How can these athletes represent their schools in the coming league season? Or are they going to forego playing for the schools? And how about the head coach, is he going to make that same commitment and not coach his school’s basketball team?
Don’t get me wrong. I like the idea of having a basketball program for the country for the long term. And that the kids’ love and commitment for the flag and country is really commendale. But with a lot of stake-holders out there, the SBP/BAP leadreship has to be 100% sure that they put all these stake-holders in one page so that questions will be answered and potential problems can be averted.
Tags: Aboy-Castro, Columns, fighting-maroons, Matchpoint, SBP-BAP, UAAP, UPRelated posts
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Christian Soler
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Friday, 22 February 2008 at 12:24 am
The UP community deserves a quality coach, as well as less bickering and politicking. Even an outsider would wish UP the very best considering what has transpired the past few years. Let’s hope things come together for the State University.
ELM_bedan
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Sunday, 24 February 2008 at 11:01 pm
i would like to comment about the basketball program of SBP-BAP.. but come to think of it.. being a player, not just in basketball but in other sports as well, is a privilege that they need to balance with education.. they should’ve gathered the less fortunate youth that has the potential to play.. from there.. they could actually monitor each of them.. and then proposed homeschooling so that they learn and play at the same time…
since they have selected the players, let them continue what they have started… but for the succeeding years, let these less fortunate to continue the legacy.. if this student coming from a private school, let say DLSU or ADMU, is really exeptional, then count him in.. that will be a better arrangement..
Blazer
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Friday, 29 February 2008 at 11:10 am
Could you write about CSB’s new coach too then? Their case was similar to UP’s(losing all but one, unlike UP who dropped all their games), and decided to sign a new coach after releasing Caloy Garcia. We are all curious how Gee Abanilla will do for Benilde’s Season 84 preparation.
Blazer
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Friday, 29 February 2008 at 11:12 am
And we really do appreciate it when the authors reply and answer to people’s comments or questions. =D
mike
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Friday, 29 February 2008 at 2:34 pm
Caloy Garcia is a good coach. It’s just the players needed a new voice in the locker room. Gee Abanilla will command respect especially coming from a consistent winner like DLSU. But yes, we will do a piece on him, why not. Thanks for the suggestion.
Blazer
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Sunday, 2 March 2008 at 3:03 pm
Maybe Caloy’s system just wasnt effective for the players. We really wonder how Mr. Abanilla will differ and how he can bring Benilde up from the cellar. We hope you can do a scoop on him or even better if on the Blazer’s changes as a whole(meaning roster and such). Thanks much.
ablaze
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Wednesday, 5 March 2008 at 10:14 am
they already replaced coach caloy? how long since? it’s too bad, i kinda liked his system and his demeanor. maybe he was a little too laid back, and the fact that there’s talent on the team just no cohesion. was gee abanilla an assistant for dlsu? i’ve never really heard of him to be quite honest. hopefully he can turn things around in csb. thanks.
wye
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Tuesday, 11 March 2008 at 5:10 pm
Gee Abanilla is an assistant coach of Red Bull in the PBA. In my own personal opinion, Yeng Guiao is the best coach in the country today and if he rubbed enough of his grit, determination, knowledge and heart on Gee then the rest of the NCAA should look out. Yes they lost their star player in Orbeta but that should not worry coach Gee at all. Red Bull loses their star every year and still manages to enter the semis; just a matter of someone new stepping up.
Blazer (Get_Blazed)
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Friday, 14 March 2008 at 8:26 pm
Thanks a lot for interviewing Gee Abanilla. We appreciate it. Hope he do miracles for Benilde. =D
ablaze!
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Tuesday, 3 June 2008 at 7:58 am
do guys have an updated roster of the blazers? can you pls. post it here! tnx!