After learning from respected mentors, Dylan Ababou relishes coaching gig

MANILA, Philippines—Dylan Ababou could’ve been one of the basketball stars of his generation, but several devastating injuries left him out of the PBA in what would’ve been eighth season in the league.

After suiting up for Columbian in the 2017-18 PBA season, Ababou found himself as an integral part of Team Grindhouse Chooks to Go Pilipinas 3×3 but playing in the halfcourt setting isn’t just his priority.

Ababou found himself in his first coaching job when he was tapped to guide Team Dedication in the 2019 NBTC National Finals Division II All-Star game against Paul Desiderio’s Team Passion.

And the former UAAP MVP said he hopes this won’t be the last coaching stint he’ll get in his career especially after outcoaching Desiderio 98-89 Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“I’ve learned a lot from my coaches because I played for a lot of coaches in different teams,” said Ababou laughing.

Ababou was the 10th pick of the 2011 Draft and was seen as a viable candidate for the Rookie of the Year plum but a knee injury derailed his progress.

Overall, Ababou suffered injuries to his anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, calf muscles, and hamstring that ultimately ended his PBA career after playing for six clubs.

Ababou said that if he’s given a chance to be a coach, he’d like to emulate Rajko Toroman’s plays and Pido Jarencio’s motivational style.

Toroman was Ababou’s head coach with Gilas 1 while Jarencio was his mentor in UST where he won the 2006 UAAP title and the MVP in 2009.

“Coach Rajko Toroman has some great plays with Gilas 1, and they were different from the ones Philippine basketball teams use and I still have the playbook,” said Ababou.

“Coach Pido is amazing when it comes to motivating players and of course his inbound plays from the sidelines. Coach Pido also does a great job on how to make his players more courageous and of course that’s our dad.”