While the punching rampage in the NCAA has hugged the sports headlines, little did I know that there was one Dabawenyo playing in the College of Saint Benilde, Robi Nayve.
Again, it was Rommel Duco, who used to play for Montana Pawnshop Team B, who first provided the information. “Ako ng pag umangkon Mo,” he said.
So, I decided to start digging for information.
Lo and behold, fellow Holy Cross Crusader Chito Ramos had plenty of stories to tell. Now tell me, coach Chito who is this Robi Nayve, who has been making some sparks for Saint Benilde, the team that just entered the NCAA Final Four.
“Assumption na elementary, kauban nas anak ni Doc Bong Presbi,” coach Chito said. The anak of Dr.Bong Presbitero is Raf, who I could not forget because he would always ask his Dad, “Dad, naa kay something?”. Regalo ba, that’s what Raf meant.
Robi started under the watch of coach Ice Gravador, assistant coaches Rolly Sancho and Jigger Saniel and after the departure of coach Ice in 2013, assistant coach Chito came that summer.
Coach Chito had the pleasure of assisting Nayve and two other outstanding players Allyn Bulanadi, who now plays in the PBA, and Vic Tarranza. And during their stint, Assumption dominated the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) and JS Gaisano Cup tournaments.
Chito has been in the shadows of legendary coach Arthur “Tura” Sumalinog, learning along with his basketball barkadas in the Crusaders team. And that style of coaching they learned, Chito and other coaches like Rolly and Jigger have been imparted to rising star players in the Davao basketball circuit.
I had the pleasure of observing the late coach Tura and I could not forget his red cap, pula kanunay ang kalo, his fury against bad officiating and his high respect for basketball regional director Regino “Boy” Cua.
This has been the joy of Davao coaches to develop young players in the elementary school and eventually prepare them for the big leagues. That is why I always laud the organizing of tournaments for young Dabawenyos and Dabawenyas, kay duna gyuy ma develop nga maayong players. When businessman John Gaisano Jr. started the JS Gaisano Cup, that was the biggest blessing for young basketeers. The Gaisano Cup since then has produced outstanding players who moved to the bigger leagues. It was the best training ground.
Chito said when coach Rolly moved to the Philippine Academy of Sakya Davao, Sakya school started to make waves in the tournaments specially in the GS Cup.
Coaches have the ability to inspire players to achieve their best. And it gives me comfort that coaches who have been under coach Tura’s watch have continued to teach and develop players for future big leagues.
Robi Nayve, I may say, is one lucky player to be under such coaches, who despite the low pay have worked devotedly for the sport as if they are paid with full salary plus benefits.
Stories like these are inspiring and the development of basketball for sure is going to continue because this lovely country treats basketball like a religion.
I also hope that someday, basketball coaches can do the coaching job full time, not part time because once they develop their teams and players, the only way to go up is for these players to join the professional leagues.
I believe it is high time for Davao coaches to be hired like regular school employees because such work is like a full-time teacher.
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