TERRAFIRMA coach Johnedel Cardel feels right at home at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Cardel recalled how he won his first major title as a player in the 90-year-old arena back in his days with the De La Salle Green Archers.
The 53-year-old coach said it was at the Rizal Coliseum where the Green Archers won the very first of their 10 UAAP men’s basketball championship back in 1989.
“Champion ako dito the last time in 1989,” said Cardel about the first of his back-to-back titles with La Salle back then.
“So sana maulit, masuwerte. Eto sinuwerte nga.”
Lady luck was indeed, on the side of Cardel and Dyip on Saturday when the PBA played its first doubleheader in the coliseum after a long while as Terrafirma battled its way back from 19 points down to nip Blackwater in the endgame, 92-91.
“Kaya para akong bumalik in the past. Kaya na-miss ko itong Rizal Memorial,” said the Terrafirma coach.
Of course, the nearby Ninoy Aquino Stadium is also a memorable one for Cardel as he played in the venue also in 1989 as part of the Philippine youth team of the late coach Ato Badolato that competed in the Asian Junior Basketball Championship.
The Filipinos finished in third place behind champion China and runner up Chinese Taipei.
Among Cardel’s teammate with the team back then include Jun Limpot, Danny Francisco, Olsen Racela, Bong Ravena, Vic Pablo, Joey Guanio, and former PBA MVP and now Bulakan, Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses.
“Kaya I’m happy to be back sa lugar na ito,” he said.
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