JOE Silva admitted it was a weird feeling being on the opposing side of blue.
"Weird siya. Sobrang weird," admitted the University of the East mentor after coaching against Ateneo for the first time in his coaching career and drawing the short end of the stick, 89-62 on Wednesday afternoon.
"For me, it's nothing and it's just a game. But weird talaga knowing that you're on the other side of the fence."
Silva has every reason to feel uneasy. He spent 14 years in Katipunan with the Blue Eaglets - the first seven as an assistant to Jamike Jarin and the last seven as the head coach with a pair of UAAP juniors basketball titles under his belt.
Moreover, nine of the current member of the Blue Eagles went under his guidance in their high school days.
Thirdy Ravena, twins Matt and Mike Nieto, Anton Asistio, Jolo Mendoza, Gian Mamuyac, SJ Belangel, Aaron Black, and BJ Andrade were all handled by Silva, honing their skills and preparing them for the bigger wars.
But for the outspoken mentor, he's just glad to see the boys prosper in the seniors' division.
"Sobrang happy ako. They're performing as they should, plus they're getting better because of coach Tab (Baldwin) and his system," he said, exuding pride.
"I'd like to say I've helped them prepare for the seniors level because it's easy to teach my players, it's easy to teach talented players, and it's easy to teach yung mga gusto matuto. Sobrang happy ako na they're working hard and getting better."
Seeing how good his former Blue Eaglets have become, Silva hopes to replicate those successes in this stint with the Red Warriors.
"Of course, they're the defending champions. They're the barometer. Yung gusto kong i-impart sa UE, yun yung kung saan ako galing. Yung Ateneo dapat, selfless basketball, very unselfish at disiplinado," he said.
"Of course, it would take time. This Ateneo team has been together for three years. We started for four months. No excuses."
Though he'd love to have a handful of his former wards on his side, Silva insists: "My focus is on UE now. My journey with Ateneo is done. Now I'm with UE. My focus is to turn UE into what Ateneo is now. Tough task, but I'm willing to do the job."
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