“Nawala sa huwisyo yung Talk ‘N Text nung nagkaroon kami ng sagutan ni Coach Chot,” he said. After Petron was blown out in Game Three, Agustin approached Reyes at midcourt and challenged him to a fistfight. After the incident, the Boosters won three of the next four games.
Agustin contended that it wasn’t his intent to get into the head of the Tropang Texters.
“Hindi naman natin sinasadya yun. Nangyari lang talaga. Pero para sa akin, laro lang naman ako even nung player tayo sanay tayo sa ganyan kahit na pikunin tayo.”
Whether the incident had an effect or not on Talk ‘N Text is up for debate. But what isn’t up for debate is how great a coach Ato Agustin is. In his rookie season as a coach in the league, the 1992 PBA Most Valuable Player led the San Miguel franchise to two finals appearances and a championship. In less than three years as a head coach, he has won titles in the NCAA, the PBL, and the PBA.
Agustin’s deputies at Petron agree are all praises for the coach.
“Maganda sa kanya, yung winning attitude andun – from college, to PBL, now nadala niya yun sa PBA, yun yung isang bentahe nya,” said Pido Jarencio, a Petron Blaze assistant who is also a champion UAAP coach with University of Santo Tomas. “Second, yung personality niya. Yung mga players, nakuha niya yung loob. Dahil yung mga players gusto siya, maaga silang nakapag-adjust sa sistema niya, which is simple lang naman.”
“Dahil mahal si Coach Ato ng mga players niya, todo bigay sila sa paglalaro sa kanya. Kami naman sa coaching staff, maganda yung camaraderie namin, also because of Coach Ato. Being a head coach, nakikinig siya, kaya sa tingin ko lalong gagaling siyang mag-coach.”
Gee Abanilla, another assistant, said Agustin fosters a great work atmosphere for his staff.
“Magaan yung environment where we are working. He is open to suggestions, binibigyan nya ng role ang lahat ng tao dito sa amin, from the players, coaches down to the utilities. When you see an environment like that, it makes you feel you belong to something and it makes you feel proud to be part of. It’s like working with pleasure,” said Abanilla.
“Kaming mga coaches binibigyan niya ng pagkakataon. Kung ano yung strength ng isang coach, tina-tap niya. He’s a great listener, pero pinapakita niya sa amin yung mga kakulangan namin. In the end, he makes the decision.”
Biboy Ravanes, a longtime San Miguel assistant, praised Agustin’s openness toward his staff.
“He’s very open to suggestions. Gusto niya kaming mga assistant coaches sama-sama yung mga ideas. He’s very approachable and hindi ka maiilang sa kanya.”
Olsen Racela, who played for Agustin in the Philippine Cup last season before retiring to join the coaching staff, praised the coach’s ability to get the best out of his players.
“Our players love to play for him. If you’re on a roll or medyo hot ka, he keeps you inside, kaya as a player, nabo-boost yung confidence mo. Nakita mo naman from the line-up naming na puro injuries, may mga nag-step up parati at nakikita ito sa laro ng mga players,” said Racela.
Ravanes added that Agustin’s mindset as a player helps him identify with the Boosters.
“Magaling siyang makisama sa mga players and naiintindihan niya talaga yung mga naglalaro, alam niya yung kiliti nitong mga ito. Para siyang one of them,” said Ravanes.
But beyond just being a players’ coach, Racela said that Agustin has a great feel for the game, which gives him an edge as a bench tactician.
“Magaling siyang magpasok ng tao. Minsan huhugot siya bigla sa bench na hindi mo akalain so magugulat yung kalaban.”
source by Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV · image by InterAKTV/Markku Seguerra
