AFTER a year in La Salle, Louie Gonzalez now finds himself in a new home in Jose Rizal University.
Although his last job didn't end the way he imagined -- with the Green Archers failing to make it to the UAAP Final Four in his first year at the helm -- he says that the experience only prepared him better in this new endeavor with the Heavy Bombers.
"Thankful ako sa opportunity at tiwala na binigay sa akin ng JRU. This time, mas nakuha ko na yung groove ko as head coach and I see things more clearly," he said, replacing longtime mentor and PBA legend Vergel Meneses.
Gonzalez admitted that taking charge of a team with meager expectations is just right up his alley.
"Easier yung adjustment ko dito compared to La Salle. Mas madali yung transition ko kasi with their situation, we all started from scratch," he said as the Heavy Bombers are coming off a season finishing dead last with a 3-15 win-loss card.
"Wala naman akong ma-ask sa players ko. They're a young team and what's good with the players right now is nag-buy in sila agad doon sa sistema. Yung commitment at effort na binigay nila sa akin, sobra-sobra naman."
It doesn't mean, though, that he's willing to settle with mediocrity.
Guards MJ Dela Virgen and Karl Bordon will both be thrusted into the spotlight as they'll be counted on to carry the flag for JRU, together with holdovers Agem Miranda and Ry dela Rosa, as well as rookies John Amores and John delos Santos from the Light Bombers.
It's expected that the Heavy Bombers will have a tough NCAA campaign this year, especially without last year's main man Jed Mendoza, but Gonzalez wants nothing fron his crew but to show some fight whenever they take the floor.
"Lalaban itong team na ito," he vowed.
"Ang goal namin is maging pinaka-pasensyoso at pinaka-disiplinadong team. Wala naman kaming pupuntahan kundi pataas. It's a rebuilding team and ang goal namin is mag-improve nang mag-improve."
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