Humble in victory

Not too many know that NU coach Eric Altamirano sought out FEU coach Nash Racela in the Tamaraws dugout shortly after the Bulldogs clinched the UAAP senior men’s basketball championship at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last week.

It was bedlam on the hardcourt as NU fans celebrated the school’s first UAAP title in 60 years but on Altamirano’s mind was just to congratulate Racela and the Tamaraws for a brilliant season.

“I caught up with Nash in the corridor as he was about to enter the dugout,” said Altamirano. “I just wanted to tell him what a great job he did with his team. I met up with his staff and congratulated all of them. I left behind the celebration for a while. Nash told me he planned to get the players from both teams together after the game for a prayer. That would’ve been a wonderful message of sportsmanship. But when the buzzer sounded, it was too late to get everyone together because the fans jumped in to start celebrating. While I was with Nash, someone told me people were looking for me and I had to go back to center court for the presentation of the trophy. I was quite embarrassed that I kept people waiting.”

Altamirano said he was particularly proud of how Tamaraws Mike Tolomia and Russell Escoto developed throughout the season. Tolomia and Escoto played on the Philippine U-18 team under Altamirano at the FIBA Asia Championships in Yemen in 2010. Others in the U-18 lineup were NU’s Gelo Alolino, Troy Rosario and Kyle Neypes, La Salle’s Jeron Teng and Ateneo’s Von Pessumal and Gwynne Capacio. “Mike has grown as a player and person,” said Altamirano. “He was a major reason why FEU went to the Finals.”

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Altamirano and Racela go to the same church service at Victory, a non-denominational Christian charismatic fellowship. They’re devout Christians with a strong faith. Altamirano said faith gave him the confidence to face the challenge of rebuilding NU without Bobby Ray Parks and Sean Mbe.

“We lost five guys in the offseason, including Ray-Ray and Sean,” said Altamirano. “For a while, we didn’t know how we would do without them. But we tried to find ways to win as a team. Ray had two more years of eligibility but decided to try his luck in the NBA. We respect his personal goals. After all, he doesn’t only represent NU but also the entire country. He’s still pursuing his NBA dream. At the moment, he’s playing in the PBA D-League to keep busy and stay in shape. When the NBA summer league comes up next year, he’ll be ready.”

Altamirano said next season, NU will lose four bigs, 6-7 Rosario, 6-4 Glenn Khobuntin, 6-8 Henri Betayene and 6-4 Tristan Perez. But it won’t be an unfamiliar situation anymore. Altamirano has proved that in basketball, nothing beats playing as a team with everyone on the same page, singing the same tune.

Last Sunday, Altamirano was at the Philippine Arena with NU import Alfred Aroga and his three children, Anton, 24, Luigi, 21 and Abigail, 11, to cheer for Kia’s L. A. Revilla. Since Altamirano brought Revilla from Bacolod to Manila as a 14-year-old high school prodigy, the Sorento guard has lived with his family.

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It was 10 years ago when Altamirano was invited to Bacolod for a basketball clinic. While in Bacolod, he was asked by a local coach to check out a promising high school center. Altamirano watched the center play but was more impressed with a point guard who turned out to be Revilla. Altamirano took Revilla to Manila and got him to play for coach Ato Badolato with the San Beda juniors. Then, Revilla moved to La Salle in the UAAP seniors.

“I knew coach Franz (Pumaren) who was then with La Salle and I felt L. A. would be a good fit for the La Salle program,” said Altamirano. “At the time, I wasn’t coaching NU. L. A. was an outstanding rookie with La Salle which went to the Finals. Then, he sat out two years because of his diabetic condition. He continued to live with us, he’d become a kuya to my kids. Marissa and I took care of him, brought him for treatment until he got to play for La Salle again.”

When Revilla was back at La Salle, Altamirano was already with NU. “We would sometimes go to the UAAP games in the same car and it was awkward,” he said. “L. A. would stay in the dorm during the week and come home with us for weekends. I was happy for L. A. when he won a championship with La Salle. After turning pro, L. A. was cut and that was devastating. I tried to guide him, always talking to him. I told him it’s not the end of his basketball career and encouraged him to persevere, to prepare himself, to be ready in case there’s a call-up. What a blessing that he was picked up by Kia. He’d worked so hard in the gym so when it was time to play, he was prepared. He worked on his offense, his outside shooting, his dribble penetration, his floater, his ability to lead. All the hard work paid off because last Sunday, L. A. was just amazing.”

Revilla scored 23 points to lead Kia to an 80-66 win over Blackwater in the PBA’s 40th season opening game before 52,612 fans. It was another reason for Altamirano to celebrate with a prayer.