San Sebastian College-Recoletos has pressed the reset button anew, this time under new head coach Rob Labagala, as the Golden Stags embark on yet another rebuilding phase.
Labagala’s arrival marks San Sebastian’s fourth coaching change in the last five seasons. Egay Macaraya steered the Stags in Seasons 97 and 98 before giving way to John Kallos in Season 99. Arvin Bonleon then took over last year but also lasted just a single season at the helm.
The rookie tactician, however, preaches patience as the Stags gradually embrace his system ahead of their NCAA Season 101 campaign, which kicks off on October 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"Getting better, getting better in terms of how these guys were able to buy in and embrace ‘yung ginagawa namin," Labagala told GMA Synergy in an interview.
"[With] their commitment, their effort, I can say na we’re getting better, but malayo pa."
Labagala will have at his disposal a mix of seasoned players and fresh talent.
Veteran guard Paeng Are, who had initially planned to forego his final year to turn professional, continues to anchor the San Sebastian backcourt after emerging as the league’s top scorer last season with 18.19 points per game. He also ranked ninth in offensive rebounds, averaging 2.13 per outing.
Labagala acknowledges Are’s value but maintains that he’s pushing everyone equally hard, including his graduating leader.
"Knowing Paeng, with the sacrifices they had and the effort na binigay nila dahil pwede na sana silang mag-pro but gusto talaga nilang mag-serve and bumalik sa San Sebastian," Labagala, who once played for Ginebra, added.
"We really appreciate them. But as a coach right here, whenever we go here sa court, I tell him talaga and even si TJ na I’ll be hard on them because the only way na makakatulong ako sa kanila is by being hard on them."
Tipped to provide the help are other holdovers in TJ Felebrico and Polo Gabat and several promising rookies in Ian Cuajao, Jhuniel Dela Rama, and Jaime Gomez de Liaño.
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News
