Zamar a personal choice of RSA

YOU WILL never guess who personally picked University of the East Red Warriors coach Boycie Zamar for the Barangay Ginebra coaching staff.

Frankly, I myself had been wondering how he got into the SMC enclave, considering that he does not have any history, major or minor, with the conglomerate. He has never played or coached for a San Miguel team, neither has he or any member of his family been employed there in any capacity.

I could not find any connection. And I could not contain my curiosity.

* * *

It didn’t take long for me to get some answers.

“Do you know that Boycie caught the discriminating eye of no less than SMC’s top honcho Ramon S. Ang?” said an official from the conglomerate.

Mr. Ang had been following the recent Filoil games on TV and he became impressed with Boycie’s coaching savvy. Boycie’s Red Warriors went on to win the Filoil title.

Before he took over, UE was mired down below in UAAP team standings.

* * *

“RSA didn’t waste any time. He knows talent when he spots one. He immediately called his head for basketball operations Robert Non and inquired into Boycie’s background. Robert told him that Boycie’s coaching experience is extensive. He has been a national mentor for a long period of time and he has coached various teams abroad,” related the SMC official.

“Hearing this, RSA decided it was time to give Boycie a break. It was time for him to move up to the PBA. The boss instructed the PBA chair to touch base with Boycie and make him an offer. ”

“May ibubuga ang batang ito  (This fellow has promise),” RSA said.

I can imagine how Boycie must have felt when he got this unexpected call from no less than the PBA chair, telling him that no less than the SMC chieftain wants him in his team.

Lucky guy!

* * *

A colleague writing for a popular broadsheet called yesterday to ask if I watched the Jose Rizal-Perpetual Help game last Monday.

He said there was a commotion after that match, following the usual handshake between the two head coaches, PBA legend Vergel Meneses for Jose Rizal and Aric del Rosario for Perpetual Help.

My colleague wanted to know what the commotion was all about. He said he knows that it involved Vergel and another party from the Perpetual bench, possibly assistant coach Jocel Angeles, who was heard to have made an unsavory comment about Vergel and his team.

Paul Mata of TV5, who was at the venue, said Vergel had reacted to the comment and there was a brief exchange of words, but nothing more than that.

“The exchange did not escalate into anything physical or violent. Vergel just gave his antagonist one really mean look which was understandable because he must have been in a bad mood, having lost that night.”