BARANGAY Ginebra cager Jett Manuel got his first taste of doing analyst work for a television coverage of an NCAA Season 94 Final Four game between San Beda and Perpetual Help last week.
It wasn't a walk in the park, to say the least.
Although he has previously appeared on TV as a guest analyst on CNN Philippines, Manuel said it was an altogether different experience teaming up with play-by-play man Martin Javier for ABS-CBN Sports’ coverage of the Red Lions-Altas match.
The former University of the Philippines standout said he did a lot of research and reading, and watched other analysts on YouTube before heading to the broadcast booth. But he admitted still being so nervous before the game.
“I’ve been doing analyst work a little bit on the side pero I got invited and I auditioned sa NCAA live panel,” Manuel said. “Sobrang nervous ko. I think I was as nervous or even more nervous than actually playing a PBA game. It’s different. It’s a new experience. Didn’t know what to expect. I just want to prepare as much as I could.”
Fortunately for him, Manuel didn’t ned to look too far to get some advice. Aside from ABS-CBN broadcaster Mico Halili, Manuel also got some help from Barangay Ginebra assistant coach Richard Del Rosario.
“I asked people in the industry, Mico Halili, coach Richard, I asked him a lot. I had a lot of help and advice from people who have done it before,” said Manuel.
And what was the best advice he received?
“Coach Richard said don’t make it too complicated kasi you are talking to the viewers. Like Mico said also, make it like you are talking to your partner. Describe what you see kasi you are a player and you know basketball. Just basically talking about the game and how you see it,” Manuel said.
Just like playing basketball, Manuel said being on the TV panel also entails a lot of teamwork and it showed in him having Javier as his partner.
“Sobrang laking tulong ni Martin. He made it a lot easier for me. We ran through how it would go before the game. He would tell me, you can say this and you can come in at this time. I knew Martin, I worked with him before that. It was really comfortable. It was easier that my partner was helping me a lot,” said Manuel.
Manuel said he plans to do more games during his free time, admitting that his dream is to actually do a UAAP game - or, better yet, either a UP game or a match featuring his younger brother and La Salle cager Joaqui Manuel.
“May plans naman. It wasn’t a one-time thing. I’m happy and blessed that they gave me an opportunity. I did well naman daw especially for a first-timer. I had mistakes also. My dream talaga is to cover the UAAP, cover UP, and cover my brother. I want to experience that. If I get that chance, why not,” Manuel said.
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