PH has special place in Canada coach’s heart

MANILA, Philippines – Team Canada coach Jay Triano has fond memories of the Philippines from his rookie year as a Canadian national player playing in the 1978 World Championship at the fabled Rizal Memorial Coliseum and at the Araneta Coliseum.

He remembered playing at the Big Dome three years after the celebrated “Thrilla in Manila” fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

He also recalled staying in the same hotel they’re billeted now for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Sofitel Philippine Plaza then simply known as Philippine Plaza.

He’s got some recollection of their game against the host team which fought them toe to toe before succumbing by 11 points, 88-99.

As a rookie, Triano played behind Leo Rytis Rautins, Martin Riley, Jim Zoet, Jamie Russel and Peter Ryan, averaging only 6.0 points a game.

As he matured, the 6-foot-4 guard became a longtime mainstay of the Canadian national team, averaging 14 points in four major FIBA competitions from 1978 to 1986.

“I played against him in the ’85 Jones Cup (in Taipei). He’s still sporting long hair then. He’s a great player,” said Filipino great gun Allan Caidic of Triano, a draft pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1981.

In the World Cup in 1978, Triano and his teammates battled with Team Phl made up of Mon Cruz, Joy Carpio, Alex Clarino, Steve Watson, Edward Merced, Padim Israel, Bokyo Lauchengco, Cesar Teodoro, Nat Castillo, Gregorio Gozum, Pol Herrera and Cesar Yabut.

Through his long stint as a national player, Triano waged war with the greats of his time, including Yugoslavia’s Drazen Dalipagic and Drazen Petrovic, Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt and Marcel de Souza, Spain’s Juan San Epifanio Ruiz and Russia’s Valeri Tikhonenko, among others.

In his third and last World Cup in Madrid in 1986, Triano led his team in scoring and ranked joint 16th overall with 16.8 points per game.

Triano’s another career highlight was leading the Canadian team to a gold-medal finish in the 1983 World University Games where they upset in the semifinals Team USA, including future NBA super stars Karl Malone and Charles Barkley.

He started his coaching with his alma mater Simon Fraser U in 1988 and, 10 years later, had his first stint as head coach of the national team. He’s worked as assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s set to bring his act with the Phoenix Suns in the coming NBA season.