BY Andrei Barrantes
AS former Ginebra player Rob Labagala goes along his first month as San Sebastian head coach, how exactly does he make the Stags golden anew?
Stating the Recto-based squad as having a prestigious basketball program, Labagala is dead set on restoring their former glory as main priority.
“I feel so blessed and overwhelmed, kasi knowing Baste, they’re rich in winning culture talaga. So I feel blessed and thankful,” he said.
READ: Ex-Ginebra player Rob Labagala is new San Sebastian coach
San Sebastian is headed towards yet another rebuild after a ninth-place finish in Season 100, and its new shot-caller is going full swing in mending all that ails the Golden Stags.
And the first order of business is identifying points for improvement.
“Sa pagpasok namin ngayon, we’ll try our best na mas ma-improve pa namin yung program. Sa ngayon, it all starts sa sistema na ibibigay namin, yung mga bagay na kailangan namin ayusin, and also yung recruitment. So, lots of work bago mag NCAA,” he said.
“Magtu-two weeks na kami ng practice. In the first two weeks na nagawa namin, it’s all about assessment talaga. At least, nakikita namin kung kulang kami dito sa areas ng players, aayusin namin. Hopefully, we can get the players that we want na pwedeng makatulong sa current namin na lineup.”
The good news is Baste is far from depleted, as Labagala pointed out a few standouts that they will build around, saying “Actually, we have good players naman. We have talented players naman like Paeng Are, we have a Mythical Five before, si (TJ) Felebrico, so we have talented players naman.”
Golden Stags' golden days
Of course, it couldn't end there.
The ex-PBA players’ input won’t stop at shot-calling. He will also oversee San Sebastian's recruitment, which is, without a doubt, crucial to the growth of the program.
“Gusto ko kasi magiging specific ako sa pag-recruit. Kaya I started with assessment, para ma-specify kung ano yung pwesto at anong klaseng laro yung hinahanap namin for Baste,” he said.
“Hopefully, I can get the best talent dun sa position na need namin para at least, magagamit namin sila in the future.”
With how hands-on he is in every aspect, it looks like Labagala is just what the doctor ordered for the Golden Stags, proud owners of 12 league championships.
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