PAULO Hubalde knows ending University of the East’s long losing streak will need much more than a coaching change.
So for now, he is starting with something he believes should come first: pride.
With the Red Warriors moving on from Chris Gavina, Hubalde has taken charge of a squad still searching for its first win in 24 games.
Hubalde has coached two games since taking over, with the red-and-white falling to Far Eastern University, 70-93, before putting up a much stronger fight against University of Santo Tomas in a 87-98 defeat.
READ: Llemit makes sure UST braves through good scare put up by UE
While the results have remained elusive, Hubalde is trying to restore a winning culture in a school he has both played and worked for, drawing from his own experience with UE and that of team legend and current consultant Allan Caidic.
“Nu’ng panahon ni coach Allan, they won the championship. Noong panahon din namin, we were there. We never won, but we were really competing,” he said on the heels of his first game officially calling the shots last Saturday.
“‘Yun ang gusto kong ipa-feel sa kanila, na we're all in this together. Sabi ko nga sa kanila kanina, you have to have that pride of wearing the red and white.”
Cause it's U and E and all other people
Hubalde said his immediate task as interim head coach is less about overhauling the team and more about restoring its belief.
“My job was to leave positivity sa loob, sa mga bata. I've been with these kids for the last two years. I know all their strengths. Alam ko kung kaano kaya nilang gawin. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, you just have to believe that you can,” he said.
That belief has yet to translate into a win, but the Red Warriors showed progress in their second game under Hubalde, staying within striking distance of the Growling Tigers before eventually falling by 11 points - still their narrowest losing margin in the tournament thus far.
Still, Hubalde stressed that the pride he wants from the boys from Recto has to go beyond simply wearing the uniform.
“Kailangan talaga nila magkaroon ng pride. Pride on defense. Pride on scoring. Pride on wearing that uniform," he said.
"Like I said, yung panahon namin, hindi ko kino-compare ah, yung panahon namin, we’re very proud to wear that. Du’n pa lang, put everything on the floor.”
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