The truth about Bayno

Don’t let former Talk ‘N’ Text coach Bill Bayno’s somber look fool you. He’s a regular guy with an unadulterated passion for basketball. Since arriving here to coach the Phone Pals for two conferences in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) last year, the 40-year-old Bayno has fallen in love with the country. He’s in town for a brief visit, furloughing after recently leading the Yakima Sun Kings to the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) title. Bayno was invited by Talk ‘N’ Text management to help out coach Joel Banal in the backroom.

In an exclusive interview recently, The Star asked Bayno 20 questions to tell his story.

STAR: What’s it like working for PLDT Chairman Manny Pangilinan?

Bayno: We’ve got a great relationship. It’s like a bond. We share a mutual love of the game. We’re both committed to winning. And we want our organization to be the best it can be. It’s not just Manny. I enjoy the friendship with the other Talk ‘N’ Text guys like Ricky (Vargas) and Frankie (Lim). The PBA is somewhat similar to the CBA in that they’re like tight-knit family leagues. The CBA, however, plays in small arenas in small towns, averaging only about 3,000 fans a game. The PBA brings in a lot more fans, particularly in the playoffs.

S: You don’t watch Talk ‘N’ Text games in the stadium. Why?

B: To avoid distractions. I don’t want players looking at me or looking over Joel’s shoulders. This is his team. I’ve made it clear from The Start I’ll be Joel’s assistant. I’m only playing a small part. I help out at practice, do individual teaching, watch films, and do advanced scouting.

S: Do you feel unfulfilled, leaving the PBA without winning a title, especially after taking Talk ‘N’ Text to the Second Conference finals last year?

B: No. This isn’t about unfinished business. I’m proud of what we achieved last year, proud of my relationship with the players, proud of being able to challenge them to reach new heights, proud that they accomplished their goal of playing to the next level. I’m proud of how the team got better from start to finish.

S: What is Joel doing right at Talk ‘N’ Text?

B: Joel can coach. We share the same philosophy and his system is similar to mine. We like the uptempo style. We like to post up–I did that with Jerald (Honeycutt) last year, now he’s doing it with Asi (Taulava). We don’t like complicated offenses. We stick to what’s simple and effective. The players listen to Joel, they’ve got good chemistry, they work together. Joel’s developed a together team.

S: How is your love life?

B: I don’t really know. Not much, I guess. All I know is now that I’ve dated Filipina girls, I know I’ll never date another American. It’s because Filipinas are better people–there’s no phonyness. It’s hard to find girls who aren’t materialistic, who’ll love you for what you are, not because you’re a coach or earning this much money. I called up (TV broadcaster) Mabel Reyes the other day–I saw her on TV and she’s gorgeous. I asked if we could get together sometime.

S: Are you a confirmed bachelor?

B: I’m single. I lived in with a girl, Tiffany, for four years but we’ve been separated now about 3 1 / 2 years. We’re still very good friends. I’ve adopted her daughter Eliza and Eliza’s best friend Betty. So I’ve got two adopted children–legally, I’m their part-time guardian. When I’m not home, they live with their mothers. The kids are 11 and 10 so they’re still too young to travel all the way to Manila.

S: You’re playing in the Coke Light Invitationals organized by the Philippine Star. Do you prefer playing to coaching?

B: I miss playing. If I could play for a living, I would. I could’ve played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) but it would’ve been a hard road. My first love is basketball. I’ve really never stopped playing.

S: Do you hope to someday coach in the NBA?

B: I’m chasing the dream. Next week, I’ll be back in the US, visiting teams, networking, checking out what’s available. I have no preference which team to work for.

S: Did you feel singled out or prejudiced when the Basketball Association of the Philippines protested your appointment as Talk ‘N’ Text coach last year?

B: I understand where they were coming from. It made sense to me. My only reaction is if you want to get better, you’ve got to broaden your horizons, to keep an open mind. Other countries are recruiting foreign coaches because they can help the local coaches and eventually enhance their job security.

S: How different is it coaching in the PBA and the CBA?

B: The PBA is like coaching in college. You’ve to be patient and you’ve got to be a teacher. Players are learning new things from you. In the CBA, the players are just a step away from the NBA. They’ve got lots of experience. During timeouts, you can tell the guys to execute something that was never done in practice and they’ll do it. I had six former NBA players at Yakima–Fred Vinson, Mitchell Butler, Darrick Martin, Anthony Goldwire, Paul Shirley, and Pig Miller. I prefer coaching in the CBA than in college because of the talent level.

S: Who do you prefer coaching–a player with tons of talent and a big ego or a player with limited skills and no ego?

B: It’ll be more fun to coach a player with limited skills and no ego but more challenging to coach a player with tons of talent and a big ego. I’d get the guy with the big ego to sacrifice, become a leader, and play the most out of his talent.

S: In the NBA, which teams do you think will play in the finals?

B: The Los Angeles Lakers, if Shaq (O’Neal) decides to play, in the West. They were down 2-1 against Minnesota then Shaq decided to go to work. In the East, I like New Jersey because of Jason Kidd. If Shaq doesn’t play his best, it’s wide open. If he plays his best, the Lakers will win it.

S: In the PBA, which teams do you think will make it to the All-Filipino semifinals?

B: Red Bull and Talk ‘N’ Text in our group. Alaska and San Miguel Beer in the other group. Sta. Lucia will be fifth. It’s wide open as to which team will play in the finals. (Jimwell) Torion’s loss hurts Red Bull–he was the heart of the soul of that team in his position.

S: You were an assistant coach of John Calipari, P. J. Carlesimo, and Larry Brown. What did you learn from each of them?

B: From Calipari, preparation, attention to detail. From Carlesimo, work ethic–he’d work ‘til past midnight. From Brown, the importance of communication–look what he’s done to Allen Iverson.

S: Who were the most talented players you’ve ever recruited?

B: Keon Clark–what an incredible wingspan, he runs, he’s quick, and he’s 7-foot tall. Shawn Marion who now plays for Phoenix.

S: How prevalent is drug use in US basketball?

B: I don’t know for sure. I think marijuana use is more prevalent than hard drugs. When the NBA started its anti-drug policy, the league cleaned up its image. The PBA is doing the right thing to crack down on drug users–it’s a positive step.

S: Which PBA players do you think could play in the NBA or the CBA?

B: None yet in the NBA. Hopefully, someday someone could. But in the CBA, a lot of guys could be role players. Asi would be a major contributor because of his size. Jimmy (Alapag) would be a great backup guard. Willie Miller is more of a shooting guard and could come off the bench. Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso, and Nic Belasco could play in the CBA, too.

S: How would you compare the Filipino fan with the American fan?

B: Filipino fans are nicer, not as ruthless. American fans like to win at all costs. They’re fair-weather fans–they even boo the home team. They’re not loyal fans. Filipino fans are loyal–win or lose, they’ll support you.

S: What places in the Philippines do you like to go to?

B: Boracay, I’ve been there once. I’ve been to Baguio and Tagaytay. I’d love to go to Cebu on my next trip. Maybe, I’ll be back for the All-Filipino playoffs. I love the Philippines and I’ve made so many good friends here.

S: What are your plans for the future?

B: I’m going back to the US next week and negotiate a new CBA contract. I’ll look around for NBA openings, too. Maybe, I can bring a US team to play in the Asian Invitationals. I’d coach the team and bring in some Fil-Ams and two to three big names.