Former SLR mentor takes over Maroons' coaching post

In one crucial offensive thrust with the game hanging in the balance, Boyet Fernandez presided over the huddle and tore a page from the Sta. Lucia Realtors’ play book. It was a two-man game anchored on Woody Co, who faked a handoff to Mark Anthony Lopez and pivoted his way to the basket for an easy bucket. The play was similar to the two-man game between Dennis Espino and Kelly Williams at the height of the Realtors’ reign in the PBA Philippine Cup two seasons ago. This, plus the PBA champion mentor’s active involvement for most part of the game during University of the Philippines’ tough overtime loss to University of Santo Tomas, were clear indications the Fighting Maroons are bound to be spearheaded by a mentor no stranger to winning. Fernandez came in as a team consultant for the Fighting Maroons’ official head coach, Aboy Castro, last week, but the former PBA player-turned champion coach was acting like a de facto bench tactician during the team’s 81-87 overtime loss to the Tigers Thursday at the Big Dome. With Castro out, Fernandez ran the show and the team came so close to winning. So what’s the real score inside the Fighting Maroons’ coaching staff? Who’s the one calling the shots for the team? Is Castro, the official coach "on leave" or is Fernandez taking over after a short stint as consultant?

Definitely, there are more questions that needed to be answered. “I’m just here to help out. I don’t know what will happen and I don’t know if coach Aboy Castro will be there at the game," said Fernandez in a telephone interview with GMANews.TV hours before their game against the Tigers. “My function with the team is as consultant and I’m here to help out." Fernandez added that it was Castro who took him in. “He even recommended me to the school management," added Fernandez. Leilani Gonzalo, dean of College of Human Kinetics, told sportswriters that Castro is currently “on indefinite leave of absence." “He (Castro) sent a text message to Prof. Ariel Juliano, the acting athletics director, last Tuesday. He is on leave for personal reasons. We knew that Coach Aboy is also involved with the Talk N Text basketball team in the PBA," said Dean Gonzalo. Sportswriters covering the game tried to get comments from Fernandez. Instead, the de facto coach sent assistant mentor Jerry Codiñera and explained that “he is not authorized to make comments as he is just a consultant." “Coach Boyet came in as a consultant," said Codiñera, who is in his third year as assistant coach of Castro. The other member of the coaching staff was Potit de Vera, who started calling the shots before paving the way for Fernandez in the second half. In one sequence during the huddle, De Vera asked Fernandez, who first acted as the one designated in shuffling players, to take over in mapping up the plays. “Coach Aboy was still with us until Tuesday, then he sent a text message the following day and told us to support coach Boyet. Anybody from the coaching staff can pitch in for instructions," added Codiñera, one of the 25 Greatest Players in the PBA. Asked whether he sees Castro coming back or not to coach the Fighting Maroons, the former PBA star then known as “The Defense Minister" said that it’s “management’s decision." - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV