WHICHEVER way you look at it, Titan Ultra head coach Rensy Bajar is either a blessed man or a cursed coach.
Not too long ago, Bajar was tasked to take over Letran head coaching duties from Bonnie Tan, fresh off the Knights' three-peat in the NCAA.
Things didn’t go exactly well for Bajar, who had certainly earned his chops handling Diliman College, as it won championships in the UCBL, while also working as an assistant in the PBA.
READ: Munzon's late four-pointer seals Titan Ultra win over Blackwater
Taking over a squad in transition which just saw the departure of all of Fran Yu, Louie Sangalang, King Caralipio, and Brent Paraiso, Bajar and Letran ended up with a woeful 2-16 record, giving him the infamy of heading the Knights' worst season ever.
Still, the opportunities remained open for Bajar – this time in the PBA, as he was tasked to lead the new-look Giant Risers squad in the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup. Of course, the only caveat is he’ll handle a squad that just lost a Best Player of the Conference candidate in Calvin Abueva.
As SPIN.ph brought up the irony of his situation to him, Bajar said it’s not exactly lost on him.
“Dasal lang. 'Di mawawala yung dasal e. Sabi ko nga, 'Lord, lahat ng mga binibigay mo sa aking team, nagsisimula sa baba e,'” he said after matching his win total in the 'Grand Ol' League' as a PBA coach after Titan Ultra's 102-98 win over Blackwater on Wednesday.
Rensy the rebuilder
Acknowledging that he’s experienced all the highs and lows of coaching, from his glory building the Blue Dragons program, to his horror stretch with the Knights, as well as the University of the Philippines, Bajar is treating every opportunity as if it’s his last – making sure that whatever the situation his is in, he’s pushing himself to be better.
“It’s a challenge, dun tayo titibay eh. Siguro, may tinuturo sa akin yung Diyos na tibayan ko yung sarili ko, na kailangan ko magpursigi lalo,” he shared.
“Hindi naman ako ganun kagaling na coach. I’m learning. It’s an every day process. Student of the game ako at pinipiga ko lang yung sarili ko kasi ito yung passion ko e. Ito ang trabaho ko.“
Indeed, he seems to be all the better this time around in his first salvo as PBA head coach, with the Giant Risers holding a 2-3 record early on despite losing their best player in Abueva.
And while he’s not about to celebrate matching his win total the last time he handled a major ball club, Bajar can at least stay optimistic.
“Hindi pa. Ibang level ito e,” he responded when asked if he’s already satisfied with how they’re going.
“But I’m very excited. Excited ako mag-coach, especially against mga magagaling na player at mga magagaling na coaches. Natututo din ako sa kanila and it’s always a process.'
“One day at a time lang talaga. Alam natin sa PBA, maraming magagaling na coach dito . Throughout my career, 'di naman smooth, ups and downs lang. Motto ko lang, never give up and yun lang talaga ang gusto ko mag-translate sa mga players ko: yung talagang 'wag bumigigay at sa lahat ng pagsubok, dapat lang tibayan.”
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