Philippine Sports News and Updates

The Sta. Lucia Realtors pride themselves in developing homegrown heroes. They have another homegrown hero in head coach Boyet Fernandez who joins a short list of former Philippine Basketball Association players who have gone on to distinguish themselves as PBA coaches as well.

The most notable names in that list include Jong Uichico, Siot Tanquincen and, of course, Sonny Jaworski. If you notice, all three have gone on to win PBA titles as coaches.

Being a former player it is easier for Fernandez to relate to his own players since he can draw from his own experiences as a professional player not only when trying to motivate his players but also in reacting to situations and trying to resolve conflict.

Alaska coach Tim Cone nailed it on the head when he said the Realtors are so good because they are playing in the image of Fernandez who was a hard-nosed defender in his playing days in the PBA.

Cone also mentioned the hunger factor. The Sta. Lucia Realtors are hungry for a title because they haven’t won anything for so long. But no one in the squad is hungrier for success than Fernandez who never won a PBA title in his 12-year career as a player.

If Sta. Lucia goes on to win the championship, I predict a trend of PBA teams elevating young and hungry assistant coaches with PBA experience as players finally getting overdue breaks as head coach.

I am talking about the Ronnie Magsanocs and the Jojo Lastimosas who have had stellar careers as players, held positions as assistant coaches for years and are ripe to take on bigger responsibilities as head coaches, not necessarily of Purefoods and Alaska but of other PBA, Philippine Basketball League or collegiate teams.

I also think other PBA teams should get more retired PBA players as members of their coaching staffs.

It’s no accident that the most successful franchises in the league are Alaska and the San Miguel franchises. And it’s because they have a core group of loyal and competent men working in their basketball teams as assistant coaches, trainers, scorers and scouts.

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I thought I would spend a quiet afternoon watching another bland National Basketball Association Slam Dunk contest but imagine my surprise to see Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard shatter all the stereotypes to post a spectacular victory.

Big men are supposed to be slow and lumbering behemoths. The common belief is that players in the 6’6”, 6’7” range, like Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins and defending champion Gerald Green, are the prototype slam dunk champions.

Howard shattered the mold with spectacularly creative dunks to win the slam dunk competition this year.

His first dunk was a show-stopper. Howard started from behind the backboard and as he glided forward he bounced the ball behind the top of the backboard. He then grabbed the ball with his right hand, switched to left and dunked just as he cleared the backboard.

His second and third dunks were flat out unbelievable. For his second dunk, he put on a Superman vest and cape, took off just past the foul throw circle and threw the ball down from about three feet away. That’s right, he was so high up he was able to dunk the ball without touching the ring.

In his third dunk, Howard bounced the ball off the floor and glided in as the ball neared the board. He then tipped the ball against the board with his left hand. As it bounced off the board he caught it with his right hand and slammed it through the ring.