Stags looking forward to another victorious NCAA season
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/05/2009 8:17 PM
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MANILA – When the 85th Season of the National Collegiate Athetics Association (NCAA) opened this year, the San Sebastian Golden Stags were never really looking to win the championship.
What they were actually after at first was to reach the Final Four.
“Goal ng championship? 'Di namin goal yun. Pero nung kinausap ako ng management ng San Sebastian, sabi nila matagal ng 'di nakapasok sa Final Four,” said Agustin, a former PBA Most Valuable Player, in an interview on “Mornings @ ANC” Thursday.
“Sabi ko di naman ako nangangako pero I will try our best makapasok sa Final 4 muna," he added.
Agustin, who was known as the "Atom Bomb" during his PBA heydays, said they had to make do with what they have.
"Kalahati [ng line up namin] rookie, bago lang kami, rookie [rin] 'yung coaching staff,” he said.
Agustin said that it was after reaching the Final Four when they tinkered about winning the Finals.
San Sebastian eventually won the championship, sweeping three-peat champion San Beda in their best-of-three championship series.
While they are still relishing their victory, the Stags are now looking forward to win back-to-back titles.
Agustin said that to make this a reality, they would have to find a new go-to guy to replace Finals MVP Jimbo Aquino, who is already graduating from the league.
Feeling the pressure
Looking back, Agustin said they felt tremendous pressure during Season 85, especially in the Finals.
Agustin said the key in keeping the pressure off his boys are proper motivation and good relationship between the team and the coaching staff.
"Siguro more on motivation. Relationship namin players at coaching staff, pagdating sa court, okay. Pagdating sa labas, barkada,” he shared.
He said that among their real tests inthe 85th Season was when they lost to NCAA contender Letran Knights and suffered 2 straight defeats at the hands of San Beda. They were coming off a 15-game winning streak then.
“Medyo nag-relax [sila] at parang nag-kanya-kanya,” Agustin said of his players. “Medyo nabigla rin sila sa defense ng Letran.”
They immediately the addressed the problems of complacency and lack of teamwork, forcing the squad to adjust and return to its winning ways again.
When the Stags lost the first Final Four game against Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers, Agustin said he remained optimistic about their chances.
“Okay lang. Heads up kayo diyan boys," Agustin told his team. "Kaya nga may bonus tayo ng twice-to-beat.”
They eventually won over JRU then coasted to their finals victory against league favorite San Beda, enabling San Sebastian to win its 12th title overall.
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