MORE often than not, coaches are second fathers to players, especially in the grassroots and amateur levels.
Most of the time, that's meant figuratively.
But for the University of the Philippines stalwart Harold Alarcon, it's actually quite literal.
"Growing up kasi, wala akong father, kaya si coach Gold yung nagbigay ng father figure para sa'kin," he told SPIN.ph, referring, of course, to Fighting Maroons mentor Goldwin Monteverde.
Alarcon and his siblings were raised by their mother in Bacolod, where he slowly but surely made a name for himself. Come the 2018 NBTC National Finals where he tallied 51 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in one game for Bacolod Tay Tung, he caught the eye of Monteverde who was then calling the shots for NU-Nazareth School.
Not long after, the two-way guard transferred to NUNS as an 18 year old and helped Monteverde's crew go back-to-back in UAAP Seasons 81 and 82.
Through it all, Alarcon was molded into maturity by his father figure - one whom he didn't exactly seek, but nonetheless welcomed with open arms.
"Akala ko dati, yung mga pagalit ni coach Gold, pagalit lang, pero habang tumatanda ako, nagma-mature ako, para rin naman pala sa'kin yun," he said, now age 23. "Lahat ng sinasabi niya, yun yung lini-live by ko ngayon. 'Pag may ginagawa ako, iniisip ko kung tama ba 'to sa tingin ni coach Gold."
Much of the same goes for the rest of UP's beloved 'Maroon 5' - who were all key cogs in Monteverde's dominant Bullpups and remain so with the Fighting Maroons.
Reyland Torres was Monteverde's player for Chiang Kai Shek starting age 14 before being part of the tidal wave towards NUNS. In blue-and-gold, he finally found his niche.
"Sobrang importante si coach Gold sa buong buhay ko. Hindi ako mapupunta rito kundi rin dahil sa kanya. Utang na loob ko sa kanya kung bakit nandito ako sa sitwasyon ko ngayon," he said, now 24 years old.
Janjan Felicilda was already in Jhocson prior to Monteverde's arrival, but it was still the former who gave the latter the shot the then-15-year-old had long been patiently waiting and actively working hard for.
"Bago si coach Gold, Team B lang ako. Nung lumipat siya sa NU, dun lumabas laro ko. Siya talaga nagbigay ng kumpyansa sa'kin," he said, now age 24.
"Sinasabi ko nga sa sarili ko, buti dumating si coach Gold kasi yung 'di ko nakikita sa sarili ko, siya nakakakita e. Kaya niya ako pinu-push, pinapagalitan kasi may nakikita pa siyang potensyal sa'kin."
Unlike Torres and Felicilda, Terrence Fortea was a champion even before Monteverde's move, joining forces with the likes of Justine Baltazar and John Lloyd Clemente in the Bullpups' 2016 title run. Still, rounding out his game needed a golden touch - or a Goldwin touch, more pointedly.
"'Di ako si Terrence Fortea kung wala siya. Siya yung nagpalabas ng laro ko," he said, reflecting on his mentor's influence on him from ages 15 to 24. "Simula nung first na nag-meet kami, sobrang importante siya sa'kin."
And of them all, it's Gerry Abadiano who's the closest facsimile to Monteverde - perhaps the only difference being the former is much more comfortable in interviews.
READ: Abadiano top student in Goldwin school of never-ending growth
But listen to both of them talk, and you'd hear the same person, from substance to speech.
"Sobrang halaga sa'kin ni coach Gold. Pagbungad ko ng Manila, siya na talaga nag-guide sa'kin, nagturo sa'kin 'di lang sa basketball kundi pati sa buhay," he said, looking back at the time he made his way from Iloilo to Manila at age 12.
"Parang tatay ko si coach Gold kasi taga-province ako e, malayo ako sa parents ko talaga, pero nandyan palagi si coach Gold para gabayan ako at teammates ko," he added, now 24 years old.
End of the road
For his part, Monteverde rests assured that State U remains in good hands for its title defense in Season 88 even after the big losses of JD Cagulangan, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Francis Lopez.
That's because of this handful of talents which has been under his watchful eye for a near-decade.
"Nung unang pasok namin nung Season 84, we started strong. Ang lagi naming napag-uusapan, we also want to finish strong. For the whole year, yung leadership nila sa team, ini-impose nila 'di lang sa salita, but also they've been working hard para sa team," he said, as they claimed the championship in their first go-round with the Fighting Maroons.
While the back-to-back juniors and two-time seniors champion coach is scant with his words in front of cameras and recorders, he will stop at nothing to sing the praises of the Bullpups-turned-Fighting Maroons he has seen grow right before his eyes - and that, of course, includes now Gilas Pilipinas mainstay and Korean Basketball League star Carl Tamayo.
"Very proud ako sa kanila in the sense na years back, napag-uusapan na namin bakit sila kailangan mag-work hard, bakit nila kailangan mag-focus sa parehong pag-aaral at pagba-basketball. Itong journey nila sa UP, more or less, naiintindihan na nila yung pagbubunga ng mga pinaghirapan nila," he said.
"I believe matagal na nilang pinaghahandaan yung life after UP. And I think readyng-ready na sila."
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday
And so, as they gear up for their last ride with their coach, the 'Maroon 5' couldn't help but feel bittersweet.
"Honestly, ang palaging nasa mind ko, pa'no kaya ako 'pag wala na si coach Gold?" Alarcon mused.
"Siyempre nakakalungkot. 'Di ko alam sa'n ako next e, pero ang panigurado, maghihiwalay na kami, 'di ko na siya makakasama as coach," Felicilda said.
Wherever they go and whatever they do next, though, Monteverde will be with them, as they now have hearts of Gold beating inside their chests.
"Malaking parte siya sa buhay ko kung pa'no ako naging matured, disiplinado. Kung pa'no ko haharapin mga problema on and off the court, siya ang nagturo sa'kin na harapin ko nang maayos," Torres shared, recalling how his mentor's advice got him through the tough time he faced last season when he found himself at the center of an untoward incident involving La Salle coach Topex Robinson.
READ: What's that on Reyland Torres' shoulder? A big chip, that's what
"'Di naman ako sobrang malulungkot kasi alam ko naman na one call away lang si coach Gold. Kung kailangan ko ng anything, nandyan pa rin siya," Abadiano said.
"Malulungkot lang ako siguro sa training na ginagawa namin kasi 'di natin alam kung ganito pa rin ba ensayo sa pro sa ibang team, ibang liga. Yun yung mami-miss ko."
For now, however, there are quite a few more months, 14 more games at least, and one whole season left for them to be under Monteverde's wing.
"Malungkot, pero 'di ko muna siya hinahayaang magpakita sa emotions ko. Kasi may misyon kami e, gusto naming mag-back-to-back. Nararamdaman ko yun, naiisip ko yun, pero at the same time, alam naming kailangan muna namin siyang isantabi," Fortea expressed.
Most, if not all, player-coach relationships are special. But what Monteverde and the 'Maroon 5' have is much more.
Clad in hues of blue, gold, maroon, and green, all they did was to go through the ups-and-downs together, powering through losses, pushing towards victories, and learning and improving all along.
And in the end, from Sampaloc to Diliman… They will be loved.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
