Joaqui Garcia fulfills coaching dream at JRU with guidance from father Yong

Joaqui Garcia is among the new faces on the Jose Rizal University bench this season—not as a player, but as a member of the coaching staff.

While his presence on the Heavy Bombers’ bench may come as a surprise to some, Garcia, a former Mapua University guard, sees it as the realization of a longtime dream.

Garcia shared that he turned to coaching after battling multiple injuries throughout his playing career, particularly during his stint with the Cardinals.

“Napunta ako sa coaching kasi I’ve been dealing with a lot of injuries sa last year ko sa Mapua, tapos napagdesisyunan ko na mag-coaching ako,” Garcia told GMA News Online on Wednesday.

“Kasi ayon din naman ’yung dream ko for the future, so why not simulan ko na ngayon para magtuloy-tuloy na.”

Garcia sustained a fracture in his foot in NCAA Season 98, which forced him to sit out the following edition. In his return in Season 100, he also reinjured his hamstring during their first game.

He was able to finish Season 100, which saw the Cardinals win it all to clinch the school's first title in 33 years.

Garcia still suited up for Abra for one season in the MPBL, but Garcia decided it was time to give coaching a try.

“Parang college pa lang, lahat naman nagdi-dream na mag-pro, pero since injury-prone ako, nag-decide ako na mag-coach na lang,” he added.

Calling the shots was never a far-fetched idea for Garcia since his father has been his mentor ever since he started playing hoops.

Yong was the longtime assistant coach of Mapua and was also a key figure in its high school program.

Having Yong as his guide is one of the reasons he is now starting his coaching journey at JRU, where Yong is also serving as one of the deputies of head coach Nani Epondulan.

“In coaching principles, sobrang dami kong natutunan sa kanya. Hindi ko maisa-isa, pero siguro ’yung pinaka-lesson na nakuha ko sa kanya is i-treat ko nang pantay-pantay ’yung mga players,” the younger Garcia added.

“Kailangan lagi akong rumespeto. Isa na rin ’yun sa reasons kasi since day one, siya naman talaga mentor ko, tapos ’yung mga coaches na kasama ko ngayon sa JRU, kasama ko na since high school.”

—JKC, GMA News