Magical could be the only way to describe how Foton played in the finals of the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix.
Coach Moro Branislav, though, sees it as just another day in the office.
The Serbian tactician, the brains behind the Tornadoes’ epic sweep of Petron in the best-of-three title series on Saturday, was quick to shrug off credit for Foton’s second title.
Instead, Branislav will be sitting back for some much-needed rest while awaiting a call to return calling the shots for the league’s newest toast.
“I like every time that I win a championship,” Branislav said after the celebration on the court died down following a 25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17 decision of the gritty Tri-Activ Spikers at Philsports Arena.
“This is my life. I’m just a coach, this is a normal job for me and I always like to [finish] first.”
Branislav though, bared something that is out of the usual.
“But tomorrow, I will just drink coffee and wait for a proposal [to return] to work,” he said after winning his 21st championship coaching in 12 different countries.
Branislav admitted to not yet hearing from Foton executives about a contract renewal, though team owner Rommel Sytin said that “most likely, [Branislav] will be back next year.”
The fiery coach, after all, wants to stick it out with the team to help make it better.
“In my opinion, give this Foton team maybe five more months and it will be better for the next PSL conference,” Branislav said.
Behind the exploits of the courageous and prolific Lindsay Stalzer, the Tornadoes fought back from two sets down and 3-8 behind in the fifth set of Game 1 to gather all the momentum they needed for the dominating second game performance.
Branislav deserves credit as much as Stalzer and the other players do.
But in the meantime, while he awaits what his part in the future of Foton in particular and Philippine volleyball in general would be, getting a tan doesn’t sound to be a bad idea.
“I don’t know what will be next for me [because] I have not yet received any information [if I will still coach the team],” he said. “Maybe I will go to Boracay for three days, I don’t know.”