STAG PARTY!
San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin and the Golden Stags came into the 85th season of the NCAA with a simple goal – ta make it to the Final Four.
With a talented but untested roste, no one, not even neophyte coach Ato, gave the Stags a realistic chance of defying the odds and giving the San Beda Lions a run for their money.
But little did they realize that they would finish bigger than they had earlier imagined. In the end, the Stags may not have San Beda’s championship experience but their enthusiasm and insatiable desire to win made the difference.
Ato and the Stags pulled off the improbable by snagging their first title in seven seasons and 12th overall, ending the Red Lions’ three-year reign.
“Nobody expected na makakpasok kami sa final four, even sa finals. Matagal-tagal na kasing di pumapasok ng final four ang team. An sabi ko lang, we’ll try our best to enter the final four. Nung nakapasok kami sa final four, sabi ko that’s another story. Saka na natin pag-usapan yung finals. If we make it to the finals, why not. And luckily, nandito na toyo,” beams coach Ato.
The Stags last won the NCAA Title in 2002, when they trashed College of St. Benilde Blazers in the final round. They made history in 1997 when they carried a 14-0 card, under the leadership then of now Barangay Ginebra front man Rommel Adducul.
It was also in that year that the Stags capped a five-year winning streak (starting in 1993), the longest in the NCAA history.
ROOKIE COACH
Renato “Ato” Agustin played the college ball for the Lyceum of the Philippines before moving on to play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was known as the “Atom Bomb” during his playing days.
Although named as one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players, many doubted his coaching acumen at the start of the NCAA season because of his limited experience.
“I didn’t expect na papasok ako sa coaching. Sabi ko nga nung naglalaro pa ako, sakit ng ulo ‘yan. Kung 15 ang players mo dapat 15 din ang ugali mo. When San Sebastian offered me the coaching job last year, nagda-dalawang isip din ako kasi wala naman akong coaching experience,” says Ato.
Coach Ato believes that being a former player worked to his advantage, preaching tough defense and unselfishness. “Yung iba alam nila and aware sila kung sino ako. Alam ko ang feeling ng isang player kasi galing ako dyan. Nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa kanila. I know how to talk to them. I told them kung gusto niyong ma-achieve ‘yung goal, kailangan natin magtrabaho and to practice hard. Na-inspire ‘yung mga bata kasi naging player din ako, alam ko yung feeling nila. Ouatside the court barkada ko sila. Pero kapag practice, kung ano yung pinapagawa ko, ginagawa nila. We respect each other,” he relates.
While they are still relishing their victory, the stags are now looking forward to winning back-to-back. But they would have to find a new go-to guy to replace finals MVP Jimbo Aquino, who is already graduating from the league.
“Defending the title is even harder. I know paghahandaan kami ng ibang schools. Isa lang ang mawawala na player kaya in a way intact pa yung team. Our new recruits are now practicing with us. Ang mga batang basketball players ngayon more on fast break na. During my time may mga set plays pa, pero ngayon para sa lahat na ang mga plays and puro takbuhan talaga,” he shares.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Every team needs a leader, and 23-year-old Jimbo Aquino filled this role until the NCAA finals.
Jimbo, hailed the season’s Most Valuable Player, is considered as one of the best young shooters in the country. He has things planned out already when he graduates from his Business Management course in March, and one of them is to enter the professional league.
But for now, he wants to relish first the feeling of being in a champion team. “Mula noong rookie ako halos hindi kami nakakapasok ng final four. Ngayong last year ko na, nagchampion kami kaya sobrang saya. Memorable yung exit ko from the team”, he enthuses.
