NCAA champion coach Joph Cleopas on growing in faith through coaching: 'In due time, God will lift us up'

Joph Cleopas has always been vocal about his faith.

He has talked before about how his mission in coaching is to glorify God, and a coaching lesson he always instills in his players is about trusting His plans.

But faith sometimes gets tested, with Cleopas even reminding himself about it all the time.

"Living life with Christ kasi, it should be a constant reminder sa sarili. Challenges will be there, mate-test talaga ang faith natin," Cleopas told GMA News Online last April 7 when asked how his faith grew a year after falling short of the NCAA Juniors Basketball title.

[Living life with Christ, it should be a constant reminder to the self. Challenges will be there, and our faith will really be tested.]

Before winning the Season 100 crown against La Salle Green Hills, Cleopas said even some of his players questioned why the loss happened despite applying the lessons outside of basketball taught to them.

"Even the boys, right after last year's game na natalo, sabi nila, 'Coach, bakit gan'on, we're trying to be humble naman ganyan ganyan pero natalo kami. Sabi ko 'P're, hindi ibig sabihin na gagan'on ka, mananalo ka agad kasi life is not all about basketball. Continue pa rin tayo i-glorify si God, follow His word, kasi in due time God will lift us up."

[Even the boys, right after last year's game that we lost, they said, 'Coach, why is like that? We're trying to be humble and everything, but we still lost. I said, 'P're, that doesn't mean that you will win right away, because life is not all about basketball. We still continue to glorify God, follow His word, and in due time God will lift us up.]

Despite losses, Cleopas said trusting God's word also bears fruit eventually.

"For me, even bago pumasok ang game na 'to (Final Four), pinanood ko ang game [Season 99 Finals], tiningnan ko 'Masakit pa ba?' Masakit pa rin. If you dwell on the loss, you will play angry, but if you just accept it and continue in God's word, declare in His name, trabaho lang, you will have a peace of mind," he said.

"Sabi ko nga sa mga bata, you have three robbers of joy: Number one is worry, kasi gusto mo manalo, ganyan, 'yanang sisira sa buhay natin kaya continue lang tayo kay God, sandal lang. Number two, wrong thinking, kakaisip ng 'Gusto ko mag-champion,' 'Bakit hindi ako nag-champion?' ang daming iniisip, nawawala ang peace of mind mo. Number three, inggit. Last year nanalo ang Letran, maiinggit ka ba? Hindi, kaya you just work again."

"Whatever the result will be here, it's not all about basketball. Pupunta rin lahat tayo kay God lagi."

[For me, even before we entered the Final Four game, I watched last year's Finals game. I was checking to see if it still hurts. And it still hurts. If you dwell on the loss, you will play angry, but if you accept it and continue in God's word, declare His name, and just work, you will have peace of mind... I told the boys, you have three robbers of joy: Number one is worry, because you want to win, that will destroy your life, so you need to continue with God, just lean on him. Number two, wrong thinking, if you keep thinking, 'I want to be champion,' Why didn't we become champion?' thinking too much, you lose your peace of mind. Number three, jealousy. Last year, Letran won, will you be envious? No, you just have to work again... Whatever the result will be here, it's not all about basketball. We will all go to God everytime.]

Indeed, a prayer was answered as Cleopas and his Junior Altas squad won the title.

The Perpetual coach, however, said he also allows his players to grow in their faith in their own time.

"Holy Spirit ang gagalaw diyan. For example, cursing sa team. Eventually, gradual [mawawala] 'yan, hindi naman instant 'yan."

"Sila, conscious na 'Uy mali ang ginagawa ko.' Eventually, hindi ko na trabaho yun, si God na tatrabaho non. Trabaho ko lang is share His gospel and eventually mabe-bless ang mga makakarinig."

[The Holy Spirit will move there. For example, cursing in the team. Eventually, gradual, that will disappear. It's not instant... They are conscious, 'Hey, what I'm doing is wrong'. Eventually, that won't be my job, God will work on that. My job is to share His gospel and eventually, those who will hear it will be blessed.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News