Play through adversity

In a PBA out-of-town game a couple of years ago, a coach was barking at his team in the locker room.

Like in most venues in the provinces that have no air-conditioning, it’s sweltering-hot with the humidity wreaking havoc on endurance, ball control and focus.

It was obvious the coach had tired of listening to his players b**ch about the horrendous conditions as they were most likely offering lame excuses for a sub-par first half.

“Play through it!” the coach roared. “Both teams are playing on the same court with the same ball and they’re ahead!”

The team limped out of the dressing room but still didn’t have enough character to transcend the difficult conditions.

* * *

As the air-conditioning conked out in San Antonio’s AT&T Arena in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the ABC television coverage caught patrons fanning themselves but still obviously enjoying the game.

Their team was very much in the contest and went on to win it coming from behind in the end. One hastily written sign held up by one fan screamed: “We’re from Texas. We can take the Heat!”

The sign could actually cut both ways as the Spurs played with their usual cool efficiency and got sterling performances from their supporting cast.

The Miami Heat tried to buck the venue problems but without the towering presence of LeBron James who got hit by cramps, the team could not respond to the Spurs’ surge.

One has to appreciate how both coaches are handling the “distractions.” While doing its job, the media has been trying to find fresh, new angles outside of the basketball to frame the chronicles of the 2014 Finals.

It started with Tim Duncan’s remarks after his team bucked the youthful Oklahoma Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. He said that they were glad to be back in the finals and that they would get the job done this year.  The Heat, of course, trounced them in seven games last year.

James reacted by saying that maybe, the Spurs don’t like them.  Then to douse water on what many may have felt to be a brewing conflict, Spurs coach Greg Popovich simply said that all this “liking” talk was silly. You didn’t need your usual codebook to translate what Popovich meant: There are other more important things in the Finals.

The same thing with the air-conditioning issue: Miami coach Eric Spoelstra said in the postgame that they tried to remain focused while attempting to stay hydrated. He made no excuses for the loss because he knew his team also had their chances in the end.

* * *

We can learn from the leaders of both NBA clubs on how to handle the teams we are asked to lead in work, school or play.

Both mentors have been polite and gracious to the media but you can tell from their body language that these minor distractions like loose talk and a conked-out cooling system aren’t going to shackle their determination.

There will be many unnecessary people or events that can upend a marketing team, a faculty group or a volunteer organization from achieving its goals. However, if the leaders remain focused then the tasks at hand can be done and the initial objectives attained.

By the way, the PBA coach we talked about at the start still has a job in the pro league.