Weighing in on the UP Coaching Telenovela

Here's some unsolicited advice for BOTH the UP Fighting Maroons Basketball Program and its (apparently) former head coach, Ricky Dandan.

Coach Ricky bids adieu (or good riddance?)
to the Fighting Maroons.
(image by Josh Albelda/Rappler.com)

For UP:

Get your act together.

Yes, you've been the UAAP hoops doormats for far longer than anybody has thought possible.

Yes, you've won only 3 of your last 36 UAAP games, and, yes, the last of those three wins happened, strangely enough, exactly one year ago.

On paper, you have all the right to be as bitter as Jennifer Aniston was (and still is) when Brad Pitt left her and her middling acting career (yes, I went there) for Angelina Jolie and her oh-so-kissable lips.

But bitter enough to fire a coach who left a good job as the head of the Ateneo Basketball Center few years ago to coach a team that ALREADY fired Aboy Castro midseason? One has to draw the line somewhere, right?

Sure, the Maroons were mired in a 0-8 hole after losing to Ateneo last Wednesday. Sure, you guys have some promising young talent in Kyles Lao, Henry Asilum, and Paul Desiderio. Sure, you have a borderline PBA hopeful in Sam Marata (who's shooting just over 31% from the field and under 70% from the line… I wonder when anybody is going to fire HIM?). Oh, and let's not forget future matinee idol Andrei Paras.

I mean, this is a quality team (no, really, please stop laughing).

I'm not entirely sure what the expectations were for Season 76, but did anybody really expect the Diliman quintet to do MUCH better than the past few seasons? And can anyone really pin the blame on a coach so passionate about the game and his alma mater that any of the dozens of UP fans watching the games can clearly hear him yell, protest, and fume?

I have a lot of respect for coach Ricky. He was part of the team that helped the Ateneo hoops program regain prominence after all. He has the chops, of that I have no doubt. Given unwavering support, I am sure he would've gotten UP up and about after a couple more painful seasons. From what I know of him (mostly based on his status updates and tweets, of course), he's a very principled person who really wears his heart on his sleeve. He doesn't pull any punches and calls a spade a spade. Frank to a fault? Perhaps. But with coach Ricky, what you see is what you get. No more-than-meets-the-eye BS from this guy, that's for sure.

Now, I also have a lot of respect for UP. This is an institution that prides itself in excellence. The Maroons may suck in men's hoops, but they do well in many other disciplines. I am under the impression that there is a solid all-around sports program in Diliman. It's just that, for one reason or another, results haven't been as rosy for the most exposed of the university's teams (can we expect a similar "retrenchment" in UP's volleyball team, too?).

So where is the disconnect?

I have no idea.

But I am sure getting rid of coach Ricky (that is what happened. there are no two ways about it. the details are sketchy -- he resigned, or he was replaced, or there was mutiny on the Jolly Roger, or maybe the price increase at Mang Jimmy's was too much already) will not help.

Now that someone else is purportedly calling the shots (Google Rey Madrid now. I did, and I didn't find much), I don't know what the "new" expectations are. Is UP expected to sweep its last six games? Are the Maroons even aiming to win one? Is this an interim thing? Will Madrid stay on for an X number of seasons? Or, as I suspect, is this the knee-jerk reaction to end all knee-jerk reactions?

Whatever happens now, I will be VERY SURPRISED if UP improves its on-court play. Heck, I'd be less surprised if prodigal son Mikee Reyes makes a comeback.

This was just wrong on so many levels, I tell you, and, apparently, it was quite off on a very personal level, too.

If there is something right that will come out of this, however, it can be found on the other side of the fence. Exiting such a politically-charged situation (come to think of it, what situation isn't politically-charged these days?), can only mean more peace of mind and, hopefully, better opportunities for coach Ricky.

Will he go back to Ateneo (I personally wouldn't mind one bit)? Will he find a coaching or consulting job elsewhere? Will he take a basketball hiatus and just watch similarly-dramatic telenovelas in the comfort of his own home? Maybe see a ‘90s documentary about Jennifer Aniston’s glory days?

Who knows?

But a guy like coach Ricky shouldn't really find trouble moving on. He'll be somewhere soon enough. Somewhere more mindful of how principled and tough a fighter he is. Somewhere better.

When it comes to trusting people, however, well, that's a different matter altogether.

So my advice for coach Ricky (as if he needs it):

Coach Ricky should get some much-needed me-time after
all the drama of the past few seasons.
(image by Carl Sta. Ana/Filoil Flying V Sports)

Get some rest, coach. And take stock of the people to whom you are important – people you can trust.

Why such a cryptic message?

Let us quote one of his tweets, shall we?

This one was from August 17, 2013:

"made a mistake trusting people #engot"

Now, whether that hashtag was meant for himself or "the people he trusted" is another matter altogether.

I would, however, give coach Ricky the benefit of the doubt.