Q&A with DLSU Hoops coach Juno Sauler
Juno Sauler was thrust into the college hoops limelight when he was tapped to replace Gee Abanilla in La Salle just three weeks before the beginning of the UAAP season. Yahoo! Sports had a chat with the 40-year old former Green Archer about the challenges of leading one of the country's most fabled college Basketball programs.
When did you know you wanted to be a coach? How old were you?
Not really in terms of being a coach, but to teach and to share. Even when I was playing I wanted to teach whatever it is I've learned, not only in Basketball but in any aspect.
Which coaches have influenced you the most?
There are plenty. I don't just limit myself to Basketball coaches. It can be Football or individual sports. I also worked in the corporate world, one year in Ayala and one in Jollibee. There they are called managers or CEOs, but in their own right they're also coaches. I try to pick up on any style that suits me and whatever style will be helpful.
What are your major philosophies as a coach?
I'm very strict with discipline. Whatever we do, everything has to be discipline, both as a team and as an individual.
But I notice you like to keep things light. After your last huddle nagtatawanan kayo. What did you tell the players?
I want to keep things light because practice is very heavy and draining, so if ever we can get them smiling a bit it's good. Whatever is needed so they can get the tension off.
Boyzie Zamar won the Filoil Campaign with UE. He said Filoil is really different from the UAAP. You didn't do as well as perhaps you were expecting in the Filoil. Do you agree with what coach Zamar says?
It's gonna be different based on the objectives you've set before the tournament.
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In what ways do you feel the pressure to bring a championship to La Salle for the first time since 2007?
There's always pressure, whether you're the coach or an assistant. Even if you're a spectator, you feel the pressure.
I don't dwell on prioritizing a championship. I know a lot of people want that. But I try to focus on the daily things, the daily aspects, just trying to make everyone better. If we do that then hopefully the result that everyone wants will happen. But I've been stressing to the players that the daily habits are important. That's why being disciplined in practice is so important. Then everything else will follow.
Last year when we spoke to Gee Abanilla, he told me that “kinikilig siya” when he sees Jason Perkins play. What can you say about him as a player and how he is coming along for La Salle?
Well first, hindi ako kinikilig pag nakikita ko si Jason Perkins (smile.)
Let's get that out of the way haha.
But Jason is a very good player, a very multi-dimensional player. He can do a lot of things for us, whether it be on defense or offense. Defensively he can guard the perimeter, he can guard the post. Offensively he can play in the perimeter, he can also play in the post. So he'll be a very big help for us.
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Kib Montalbo; what are your thoughts on him and what he can contribute?
He's willing to listen, willing to learn. He has a lot of upside.
Allan Caidic is with the team. Is he just a shooting coach or does he bring more to the team than that?
I've been with Allan for a long time already. We were both assistants with Ginebra. He has a lot of inputs that help. Coach Jun Limpot also. Even if people see coach Allan as a shooting coach and coach Jun as a big man coach, they have more to them than that. They have bigger roles.
Do you see yourself in any of these players?
No. I'm not quick, I'm not athletic, I can't jump.
How about the smarts? I presume you have the smarts or else you wouldn't be coach.
All of them. I like how they think. I like how they observe the concepts. Everyone has been very helpful. You can see the initiative in everyone, helping out everyone. They're a smart team.
What if you win the UAAP title this season but are swept by Ateneo. Is that a successful season for you?
No. My successful season is when we see how much we have improved. If it brings a championship then it brings a championship. If it brings us a win against Ateneo, then it does. Like I said earlier, my focus won't dwell on winning or beating this certain team. That's not my main goal. My main goal is to get the best out of what we have. If there is a team stronger than us, then, well, as long as we do our best. To me, being the best you can be is more important than being number one in the world.
What does Jeron Teng need to learn to be one of the elite players of this league?
(Long pause.) Plenty.
You're going Gregg Popovich on me? One word answers? Haha.
He needs to work on a lot of things. But I like the way he has been playing the last two weeks. We've had three practice games and I like the way he is adjusting to his new role.
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There's a lot of free throw work in your practice sessions. Is that because La Salle has had a history of free-throw shooting problems?
That's something we can improve on. If we can improve on that then that's going to be big. We put a lot of time on things we need to improve on, not just free throws. But that's one thing (free throws) we do every practice.
Are kids different these days from when you were a player?
I think they are the same. The only thing different are the surroundings.
Yeah what about this gym? (We are at the 9th floor gym of the Enrique Razon Sports center) Do you think it would have made a difference if you had a gym like this when you were playing?
Our gym wasn't like this but I'm sure the gyms of the other teams were the same also.
The NBA Finals finished last Thursday. Did you watch and do you learn anything from watching NBA?
I like watching but I don't root for any team. I just like seeing adjustments of coaches. I wanna see the plays that they run, how they defend. If I can pick up a thing or two that might be helpful to us, then that would be good also.
Did you pick up anything from the Finals?
Ya. Like how Popovich rotates his players, and the offense Spoelstra runs.
You saw coach Gee leave after just one year in DLSU. Do you worry about your job security coaching in the UAAP?
No, I don't think about that. I've been in the profession for fifteen years now and that happens. Players come and go, coaches come and go. Not only here in the Philippines but even in the NBA. All over the world. Not only basketball but even in the corporate world it happens. You get CEOs and Vice Presidents fired. It happens. Change happens.
If you could put your brain inside the body of your players, do you think you could win a UAAP title?
My brain and their bodies? (Long pause.) Maybe.
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I couldn't help but notice in practice that Norbert Torres made two straight free throws shooting underhanded. What would you say to him if he did that in a game?
He won't do that. He won't do that in a UAAP game.
I also noticed there is a picture of a Football player on your phone.
That's my son, who is in grade four. He has been playing Football for four years already. He's also varsity in Zobel for Basketball.
Do you want to see him be a Green Archer in Basketball like you?
I'd like him to do whatever he wants to do.
What's the most surprising thing about you that people don't know? As a person or as a coach?
I like to try out different sports. I like to learn how other coaches teach me. That way I might get a thing or too on how to teach also.
What other sports have you been learning?
I recently started cycling three weeks ago. I tried swimming. My son also does Jiu-jitsu. He's been doing it for more than a year already. He is my classmate at times. When I have the time I join his class. It's a kid's class.
Do you grapple with the coaches?
Yes I grapple with the coaches but of course they always beat me up.
Is there anyone on your team that you'd like to grapple with?
All of them. Especially when they turn the ball over.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
