‘Manong Brigade’ members laud former coach Baculi for reinvigorated careers
Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Wednesday, November 14, 2012 · 3:33 pm
AKTV/Paolo Papa
Petron Blaze center Dorian Pena was one among several veteran players who were given new leases on life while playing for Junel Baculi and the famed “Manong Brigade” with the Barako Bull Energy.
Pena still has a lot of admiration for the coach, and it came as a shock to him when he learned Baculi was no longer in charge of Pena’s former team.
“He’s no longer coaching the team? Wow,” was Pena’s first reaction when called by InterAKTV.
“It was a pleasure playing for Baculi last season. For me, he’s one of the finest coaches in the PBA and I think if you give him talented players on the team, he can win championships. This guy knows how to coach,” added Pena, who returned to the Petron Blaze Boosters this season.
“I would rank him high among the coaches whom I’ve played for.”
Two other members of the “Manong Brigade” who helped Barako Bull to a near finals stint last season also had good words to say about Baculi.
Danny Seigle, who was traded to the Air 21 Express in a deal that involved the top three picks of the rookie draft two seasons ago – Noy Baclao, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Rey Guevarra – before the franchise was renamed Barako Bull, has plenty of respect for the coaching ability of Baculi.
“He demands respect from you,” Seigle said in a telephone interview. “He allows you to speak your mind. One good thing about coach Baculi is whatever happens inside the court, stays on the court. He will not take it personal against you so you don’t have to worry about the next game or next practice because you know it’s just business and nothing personal.”
For Seigle, playing for Baculi was like “rediscovering your old self.”
“He gives you freedom and he lets you to play your game,” said Seigle. “One good thing about having veteran players is that you know you’re going to make good decisions on the court. Yes, we overachieved quite a bit under coach Baculi and that’s because there were a lot of veterans. He was able to utilize us. As veterans, chemistry wasn’t that difficult to be established.”
Ronald Tubid, who was overshadowed playing for a star-studded Barangay Ginebra squad before moving to Barako Bull, was able to get his second wind under Baculi as well.
“Utang ko sa kanya yung pagbabalik ng kumpiyansa ko,” Tubid said. “He told me na dahil wala na si (Willie) Miller, isa na ako sa magiging go-to-guy ng team, kaya sinuklian ko naman. I would rank him as one of the best coaches I ever had.”
Tubid shared how Baculi’s personality differs from the one basketball fans don’t see outside the court.
“Mabait si coach Junel, sa totoo lang,” said Tubid. “Yung nakikita ng fans inside the court, kabaligtaran sa totoong buhay. Minsan nga yung pagiging mabait niya inaabuso na ng ibang players.”
But Tubid will not be surprised if he sees Baculi handling a new team someday.
“Maliit lang ang mundo ng basketball at dahil magaling naman si coach Junel, hindi malayong maging coach siya ulit sa PBA. Hindi natin alam, baka magsama kami sa ibang pagkakataon,” he