Tang lets players coach in Blazers’ final preseason game

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

With only a third place finish in a preseason tournament on the line, College of St. Benilde head coach TY Tang took a backseat and let his players Justin Gutang and Unique Naboa map out plays during timeouts.

Gutang said the purpose of coaching was for them to familiarize themselves with the team’s plays.

“Coach TY wants us to learn ourselves, to test if we know everything because he is not always going to be able to help us because of the drums,” said the 6-foot-3 wingman.

Gutang and Clement Leutcheu did not play in the Blazers’ 78-58 loss to Far Eastern University in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup as Tang did not want to risk any potential injuries to his key cogs.

“We just wanna stay healthy. We have NCAA next week, that’s all we’re focusing on right now,” Gutang added.

As the Blazers’ overachieved in the preseason stint, Gutang said they could even be a lot better come the NCAA.

“We’ll be 110% ready,” he said.