Roger Pogoy for TNT KaTropa. INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippins — Roger Pogoy has come a long way since his playing days at University of Cebu in high school where he went under the radar before getting his big break with Far Eastern University in college.
Now a three-time PBA All-Star after being drafted by TNT in 2016 and regarded as one of the top swingmen in the league today, Pogoy says he owes much of his success to his former coach Nash Racela, whom he also sees as a father figure.
“Actually, kay coach Nash parang papa ko na talaga siya. Tinulungan niya ko hindi lang sa basketball,” Pogoy said on the 2OT podcast last Saturday.
(Actually, coach Nash has been like a father to me. He helps me not only in basketball.)
“Kasi nung una, pag dating ko sa Manila yung laro ko talaga parang barumbado eh. Puro away away lang mga ganun.”
(At first when I arrived in Manila, my game was rugged and it was like I was just looking for trouble.)
The 28-year-old Pogoy also credits Racela for his seamless move from college into the PBA.
“Hindi lang sa basketball, pati yung buhay talaga. So ayun malaking tulong sa
transition ko papuntang PBA. Dati nga hindi ko alam yung mga staggered screen, yung mga tawag tawag na ganyan. So nung dumating na si coach Nash, ayun parang madali na lang yung basketball.”
(It’s not just in basketball but in life. So he was really of big help with my transition into the PBA. Before I don’t even know what a staggered screen is. So when coach Nash arrived, basketball became easy.)
Pogoy patiently waited for his turn to shine at FEU, playing behind the likes of Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia.
His time finally came in his final year, his third year under Racela.
It was also during that year in 2015 where he played an instrumental role in helping the Tamaraws end a decade-long title drought in the UAAP.
Not long after graduating from FEU, Pogoy found himself under Racela’s tutelage anew at TNT from 2016-2018 before the KaTropa opted for a coaching change.