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| Mapua head coach Atoy Co with his old Crispa Redmanizers teammate Boysie Henares who aside from being league chairman is now a Filoil executive. |
Atoy Co’s Mapua
Cardinals return to the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup
by rick olivares
Over 20 coaches showed up for the Coaches Meeting for
the upcoming 2014 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup but Fortunato “Atoy” Co was
the only head coach present (usually it’s the assistants who attend).
“Excited,” exclaimed the Philippine Basketball Association great who once
donned the colors of Mapua.
It is Co’s second season at the helm of his alma
mater’s college basketball team. This past NCAA Season 89, his Cardinals
finished dead last in the 10-team league going 2-16. But his team shook up the
standings by beating eventual champion San Beda, 81-76, and shocking the San
Sebastian Golden Stags in double overtime, 104-99.
In his first year, he didn’t participate in the
Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup. “February lang ako pumasok sa Mapua,”
explained Co. “Wala akong time ma-assess at ma-train yung team. Kaya hindi kami
sumali; kung puro talo lang made-demoralize lang yung mga bata ko. Yung ang
philosophy ko. Siguro sa ibang coaches gusto nila sabak agad. Sa akin,
pag-aralan muna natin.”
“Ngayon pwede na.”
Co says he is looking forward to join the summer
tournaments. “Dito tayo kukuha ng experience.” He will count on junior mainstays
Kenneth Ighalo, Joseph Eiobu, Mark Braña, and Jesse Saitanan to lead the way.
Co pointed out that save for Ighalo who will be in his final year, most of his
team will be a mix of juniors and sophomores. “Nagkaroon na kami ng baptism of
fire. So meron na kaming experience
Mapua has five NCAA Men’s Basketball crowns but last
hoisted the winner’s trophy during the 1992-93 season with Joel Banal as head
coach. “Mahirap lalo na malakas yung programa ng San Beda,” said the 6’2” Co of
his team’s chances. “Pero basta kami laban lang.”
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