1,600 meals a day; Cone, Guiao learn ‘new norm’

Inside the bubble

CLARK, Philippines — So, how does one prepare more than a thousand meals a day inside the PBA bubble?

Well, The STAR learned it straight from the source, Quest Hotel executive chef Jean Louis Leon, who shared what should be the winning recipe.

With a 17-strong team working as early as 4 a.m., the French cook said they serve 400 packed meals for the PBA delegation and 150 for the entire hotel staff for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus morning and afternoon snacks.

That’s easily over 1,600 meals a day requiring 100 kilos of meat, 40 kilos of vegetables, 50-60 kilos of fruits and 100 kilos of brown rice plus an additional 10 kilos of white rice all in a day.

But the bigger challenge is packing the meals and delivering them to each room.

“That’s where you spend a lot of time. But it’s okay, we’re getting into the routine,” said Leon, who had served in Thailand, Vanuatu, Seychelles, Egypt, Carribean, Europe and Uzbekistan.

He enjoys eating sinigang and adobo as well, and cooks a bit of the famed Pampanga sisig – if asked.

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CLARK, Philippines — Everything is different inside the PBA bubble.

And this early, seasoned coaches Tim Cone and Yeng Guiao have learned to veer away from their own customs under the “new normal.”

Cone has ditched his signature shirt and tie outfit, settling for a more relaxed look with his Ginebra polo shirt and slacks.

“I think maybe this is the first time I’m not wearing a tie in an official game,” said Cone.

Then there’s Guiao, who’s finding it very difficult to url instructions from the bench with a face mask on.

“I can’t shout. Even when I’m mad. But I will adjust. We’re setting a model for the public to also encourage them to wear mask,” he said.

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CLARK, Philippines — While others have played golf and darts or have gone swimming and jogging in their free time, Roi Sumang took to billiards after anchoring Blackwater’s smashing debut last Monday.

Along with teammate Jon Jon Gabriel, Sumang picked up a cue stick and tried sinking the multi-colored balls into the pockets following a stellar performance of 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Elite’s 96-89 win over Northport.

“Para ma-relax lang,” said Sumang.