Championship of a lifetime

(Coach Britt takes pride of legacy with USC Warriors)

CEBU, Philippines —  As a celebrated coach, he had racked up multiple accolades spotlighted by a rare grandslam with the San Beda Red Cubs in the NCAA juniors division from 2010 to 2012.

His coaching acumen brought him to foreign shores, serving as head coach of the Indonesia U18 national team and the Laskar Dreya South Sumatra in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL), before moving to the Sarawak Basketball Association in Malaysia.

Upon his return to his homeland, he quickly dribbled his way to the Bulacan Kuyas in Manny Pacquiao’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was chief strategist of Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines before MPBL’s shutdown due to the worldwide pandemic last March.

Of all his shining achievements, decorated Cebuano bench tactician Britt Carlo Reroma considered his history-making feat with the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors half a decade ago as one his most cherished moments in his illustrious career.

Steering the USC Warriors to their first major crown since 1958 in the chronicles of Cebu hoopdom was one great success he is most proud of.

On October 20, 2015 at the Cebu Coliseum, the Warriors, under the command of Reroma, stunned the formidable University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 64-53, in the deciding Game 5 of the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Finals to end USC’s 57-year title drought.

Cameroon’s Shooster Olago, the Warriors’ foreign student-athlete, was the man of the hour in their golden triumph with a monster double-double show of 26 points and 19 rebounds spiked with two assists, two steals and one block to grab the Finals MVP honors.

Bannered by Olago and skippered by Nico Magat, the other members of the USC Warriors 2015 CESAFI champion team were Kiefer Lim, Gio Laguyo, Rhyle Maconocido, Bosoy Bensig, Dolan Adlawan, Kevin Oleodo, Mavi Suarez, Charles Pepito, William McAloney, Ian Ortega, Victor Rabat, and Ian Tagapan.

After he took over the coaching reins from former PBA star Junthy Valenzuela, Reroma said USC’s vision was crystal clear - to be the best of CESAFI. The only way to attain that lofty goal is for them to become champions.

“We have the talent and experience to match or beat other teams in the CESAFI that time with all the support of the administration and alumni,” said Reroma.

In the end, lady fortune smiled at Reroma and the USC Warriors after they savored the sweet nectar of championship success, a solid proof that their winning the pre-season Partner’s Cup was no fluke.

And Reroma looks back to it with great sense of pride knowing that he left an indelible mark in the hearts of the Carolinian community.

“It is one of the best feelings that you had been part of history. Your legacy will always be there,” said Reroma. “There’s that feeling of gratitude to the school that they gave you a chance to lead the team.”

“It’s also a great feeling for our team consultant coach Julian Macoy. He was part of the USC champion team in 1958 and was also part of the coaching staff when we won the championship in 2015. I can still vividly recall that he was the first one to approach me after we won the title. It was truly a humbling moment for me that I was able to help him  and become part of his personal accomplishment.”

Aside from hard work and great team effort, Reroma shared the other recipe for their success was that they treat each other as a family.

“We respect, care, and love each other. It is really a family and team effort from each one of us, from the first person until the last person. I want to acknowledge everyone that has been part of that history. We did it all,” said Reroma, who had Bong Abad, Teroy Albarillo, Ron Vivar, Jabby Bautista, and Bernie Ursal as deputy coaches at that time.

Their strength, conditioning and support staff were composed of Dr. Rhoel Dejano, Niel Villarosa, Jop Gallardo, Kim Alvero, and John Deldig.

Daunting and tedious a task as it may seem, Reroma is highly optimistic that someone would be able to replicate what he did to the Warriors someday.

“It will still happen. Everyone has that chance to be champions not only in the basketball court but in life. We are praying that someday it will happen again, that USC will be back on top. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone behind that success during my time in USC,” ended Reroma.