Tang, kumpiyansa sa antas ng Benilde
TIYAK na marami ang nagulat sa impresibong kampanya ng College of St. Benilide sa elimination round ng 95th NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Ngunit, taliwas ang damdamin ni Blazers coach TY Tang.
“Not at all,” pahayag ni Tang sa media briefing nitongMiyerkoles matapos maitala ng Blazers ang ikalimang sunod na panalo para maitala ang pinakamatikas na simula sa liga mula nang maging kasapi noong 1998.
Ginapi ng CSB Blazers ang season host Arellano University, 82-77, para sa imakuladang 5-0 karta sa The Arena sa San Juan.
Nalagpasan ng St. Benile ang dating lider at defending three-time champion San Beda University.
Nanguna si Clement Leutcheu sa Blazers sa naiskor na 13 puntos, pitong rebounds at tatlong assists, habang kumana si Justin Gutang ng 12 puntos sa kanyang unang sabak mula nang mainjured sa tuhod.
Mula sa pagiging PBA player, nagdesisyon si Tang na pasukin ang coaching career at pangunahan ang St. Benilde – sister school ng alma mater niyang La Salle – nitong 2017.
Sa kanyang pangangasiwa, nakamit ng St. Benilde ang matinding pagbabago.
“I can’t really say where I’m leaning towards in terms of my philosophy as a coach but definitely all my coaches have influenced me in a way or the other in this game,” pahayag ni Tang.
“I would say I’m confidently having my own identity as a coach as I continue to learn and grow every single day. Just keeping it open but also assertive when I have to,” aniya.
Sa kanyang unang season, nakamit ng Blazers ang 4-14 karta. Sa sumunod na taon, nagmintis sila sa huling upuan sa Final Four sa 10-8 marka sa likod ng University of Perpetual Help (11-7).
Ngayong, season tila nasa ibang aspeto ang kahandaan ng Blazers.
“It’s really our goal to be able to compete at the highest level.”
“I’m happy that after all the years we’ve been working on the team physically, emotionally and mentally, we have all come to believe that we are capable of winning games,” aniya.
Masusukat ang kahandaan nila laban sa Lyceum Pirates sa Biyernes, Red Lions sa Aug. 23, Letran Knights sa Aug. 27 at the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers sa Aug. 30 sa The Arena.
“It helped us in terms of recovering from bit of aches and pains from some of the players but I feel it also kind of held back our momentum. But winning (against Arellano) erased that thought,” sambit ni Tang.