In two decades of coaching, Jong Uichico has handled legends like Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle and soon-to-be greats such as Jayson Castro and Ranidel De Ocampo.
None of those stars compare to the “uniqueness” of Rudy Hatfield.
“Si Rudy Hatfield [is the most interesting],” said Uichico Thursday at SportsIQ, Inquirer’s live omni platform sports show. “Practice or game, 100 percent talaga, go talaga.”
“Pag sa practice magagalit yan pag hindi hard ang player, magaggalit yan, magmumura yan.”
Uichico was Hatfield’s coach for most of his career with Ginebra. And Uichico swears that Hatfield’s pro-wrestling-esque H-Bomb persona on the PBA hardcourt is the same one he carries with him to gym practices.
Even Hatfield’s chosen jersey number, 99, mirrored that eccentricity.
Hatfield, who once became a fireman in Detroit after his Ginebra career, would defend, rebound and dive for loose balls in practice like he would during games.
The craziest thing? Even when asked to do something he doesn’t agree with, Hatfield would go out and do it, but only after giving the coaches a piece of his mind.
“Maski ayaw niya pinapagawa mo sa kanya gagawin din niya, maski katakut-takot na reklamo [na ang ibato niyan],” said Uichico. “He’s really interesting but you like that type of player, always.”
