GALERIES Tower head coach Lerma Giron had the last laugh over Cignal’s Shaq delos Santos in the battle of University of Santo Tomas’ deputy coaches during the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round.
There wasn't any animosity between the veteran coaching duo in the high-stakes contest. In fact, delos Santos shared how he was treated by Giron to a post-battle meal with an assist from Golden Tigresses’ head coach Kungfu Reyes.
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“‘Yung relationship naman namin pagdating sa UST, respetuhan. Nanlibre kasi siya eh,” delos Santos shared.
“Sabi ko nga, ‘di ko nga alam kung kakainin ko ‘to kasi kahit ata asukal yung kainin ko, mapait pa rin yung lasa,” the Cignal mentor added in jest.
“Kidding aside, kinulit-kulit kasi siya ni coach Kungfu. Kahit anong request namin, binibigay niya that day.”
Pleasantries aside, delos Santos still couldn’t deny the fact that losing to the 10-seed Highrisers in the qualifying round stung hard.
Yet he still tipped his hat to his UST coaching partner, saying how that win was meant to go Galeries Tower’s way that dya.
“Muntik na akong mahimatay. Namutla ako. Sa itim kong ‘to, namutla pa rin ako,” delos Santos joked.
“After namin matalo, grabe yung pakiramdam namin. Hindi namin alam kung ano yung nangyari," he continued.
"Deep inside masakit din sa’min yun, pero kailangan nga naming tanggapin.
Still, Delos Santos tipped his hat to Giron and the rest of the Highrisers for coming out truly prepared during that day
“Deserve din nila yun that day, kasi grabe din talaga yung nilaro nila. Never din kasi nila pinalitan yung routine kahit ano man result ng games nila.
“Kami rin, nagulat kung paano sila naglaro pero (credit yun) sa leadership din ni coach Lerma, kung paano niya i-guide yung players niya, yung system niya.”
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