RICHARD Del Rosario chalked up a W in his first game pitching in for Tim Cone.
The Barangay Ginebra lead assistant coach called the shots in Barangay Ginebra's 105-89 win over Converge in the PBA Philippine Cup while Cone is in the US for a brief gig as part of the coaching staff of the Miami Heat's NBA Summer League team.
[See Ginebra shakes off gritty Converge]
Before the game, Cone left a message for Del Rosario which basically game him a roadmap on how to coach in his absence.
“Sabi lang niya sa akin, ‘Good luck’ and, ‘Coach it the way you would coach and not how you think I would do it.’ That means a lot,” said Del Rosario.
Aside from Cone, Del Rosario thanked Ginebra management led by San Miguel chief Ramon Ang and sports director Alfrancis Chua for the trust to let him take over the reins, that allowed the most winningest coach in PBA history to accept the Summer League gig.
“I want to thank si coach Tim of course for the trust and also the management, si Boss RSA, si Boss Al. Sabi nila, kung wala silang tiwala sa akin, sa coaching staff, baka hindi nila payagan si coach Tim pumunta doon.
“Even though may invitation siya, kung hindi niya tina-trust ‘yung staff, baka [hindi siya pumunta]. I want to thank them for the trust and I just want to repay that trust to the whole coaching staff. It was a total team effort, brainstorm kami ng coaching staff. Luckily, we came up with a win,” said Del Rosario.
Del Rosario, who had a seven-year career in the PBA including in 2003 with Alaska where Cone was the coach, said the relationship he has built over the years with the players helped him in this role as stand-in head coach.
“I can’t pretend or try to be like him because I would just be a poor copy. The best way is to be myself dahil matagal ko na rin kasama ‘yung mga players, maganda ‘yung mga relationships namin kaya hindi ko na kailangang magpanggap sa kanila.
"I’m just happy with the response that they gave me. Some players, nilapitan pa ako. I know it’s a big game for us. It’s always a big game for you,” said Del Rosario.
The Ginebra assistant coach also said the one-week preparation was also a plus factor for the team.
“It was really more of preparing the players mentally than physically. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ako nag-player din ako dati, kapag wala ‘yung head coach, feeling mo, ‘Assistant coach lang ‘yan, puwede ko gawin ‘yung gusto ko.’ ‘Yung preparation ko is more on mental adjustment na wala kaming letdown.”
“We had four wins coming into this game pero ‘yung four wins, hindi pa kami sa playoff nun. And it’s a good thing na sila Scottie [Thompson], the other guys know that because of their experience in the past,” said Del Rosario.
Pressure situation
Del Rosario admitted there is pressure to fill in the role of the 24-time PBA champion, but said that he didn’t want to let it affect his coaching in the game.
He will coach three more Ginebra games before Cone returns.
“But I just have to remind myself, I’m living my dream. From a player na wala naman masyadong skill, ngayon, nagko-coach ako sa PBA and I’m coaching Ginebra pa. I won’t let pressure ruin that.
"I’m just going to enjoy the moment. I’m thankful dahil hindi lahat nabibigyan ng opportunity,” said Del Rosario.
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