It’s all a matter of believing that sooner or later, everything will be better again.
Taking a cue from the optimistic outlook of team owner George Chua, Barako coach Junel Baculi is just as confident the Energy Boosters are going to overcome major humps in their campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) 36th season.
“It ain’t going to be easy, but they’ll have to do it slowly but surely. We treat this season as a rebuilding process. And it’s nothing new to me, dahil ako naging part din naman ng mga expansion teams before," said the coach with the booming voice and slicked-back hairstyle.
“It’s not easy, but our attitude is to trust each other and make the most out of what we have, with the hope that eventually, things will fall into place for this team again."
Though no longer having players in the mold of Kerby Raymundo, Willie Miller, Cyrus Baguio, Lordy Tugade, Enrico Villanueva, Junthy Valenzuela, Larry Fonacier, Leo Najorda and Mick Pennisi, the Energy Boosters somehow made key strides going into the Philippine Cup by acquiring shooting guard Sunday Salvacion, playmaker Marvin Cruz, big men Ken Bono and Richard Yee, and undrafted rookie Hans Thiele.
Baculi believes the team’s current roster is more balanced than last season when Barako Bull, owner of three championships and two runner-up finishes in the past decade, ended up with a 6-30 overall record.
“I think we were able to acquire shooters who can make it on a consistent basis, got some defensive players din, like would you believe, si Sunday or even si Rob Wainwright, marunong din naman palang dumepensa. Marvin (Cruz) has yet to play his full potential, while Hans is definitely doing well as a rookie," said Baculi, now in his second conference and first full season with the ball club.
“Yes, we have talent. But the problem is, the others have more talent than us," said the Barako Bull coach. “Kaya ang thinking namin is to outwork and outdefend our opponents. Alam naman namin na out of the 10 teams here in the PBA, nine of them we can’t outshoot."
So that’s exactly what the Energy Boosters did in securing their first win in the All-Filipino tournament when they held MacMac Cardona and the Meralco Bolts to a 14.3 percent shooting in the fourth quarter en route to a 74-68 win.
For the entire fourth quarter, the Bolts went 3-of-21 from the field, with Cardona going scoreless at 0-for-5 shooting.
“My motivation for the team is for the players to show that they belong in the PBA," said Baculi, a hard-nosed defender and playmaker during his days with Mapua. “I remind them and always challenge them that they deserve to be playing here."
While trying to put up a positive attitude, Baculi also knows when dreaming has to stop.
“It’s not realistic naman na sabihing magcha-champion kami (in the All-Filipino). So we’re setting modest goals. Take it one game at a time, because we know for a fact that the PBA is a tough league," he said.
The most Barako Bull can strive for at the moment is to get into the next phase first.
“I believe the last four conferences, lagi kaming 10th place. Laging out," Baculi said. “So the best we can aim for is to get to the No. 8 spot muna, which I think would already be a quarterfinals stint based on the new format. Basta, the goal is not to get eliminated for the first time in five conferences."
And from there, perhaps, Baculi can continue dreaming. – KY, JVP, GMANews.TV
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