Following Filoil triumph, UE's Zamar tries to tone down expectations
Buoyed by its surprising championship run in the recently-concluded Filoil Flying-V Hanes Premier Cup, University of the East is now billed by armchair pundits as a legitimate contender than just a dark horse heading into the UAAP Season 76 cage wars.
Coach Boycie Zamar, however, was quick to tone down the expectations on his Red Warriors crew.
“Hindi ito (championship title) gauge o barometer sa magiging performance namin sa UAAP,” he stressed in a phone interview Thursday.
“Let’s face it, most of the teams that we’ll be competing against in the UAAP kept their aces close to their chests. So hindi rin maga-guarantee na magiging ganito rin ang takbo ng team sa UAAP,” he added.
A former national team coach, Zamar, 47, pointed out their latest feat was indeed “a big confidence-booster” for the Red Warriors, who are raring to make up for a disappointing seventh-placed finish last season when they posted a 3-11 mark.
Two of those wins–courtesy of Chris Javier’s pair of clutch jumpers–came after Zamar was re-hired by team management to take the coaching mantle from his close buddy Jerry Codiñera halfway through the eliminations.
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Since then, the Red Warriors found some sort of rejuvenation–both on and off the court.
“In our nine-month transition, I can say na marami na kaming na-achieve. I had the opportunity to bond with my players. Ang importante sa akin ngayon, nakikilala ko ang pagkatao nila. ‘Yung approach ko sa bawat isa, beyond as a player,” stressed the soft-spoken coach.
Interestingly, Zamar played a pivotal role to gunner Allan Caidic and Codiñera, who both became pro league greats, when UE clinched its 18th - and thus far, last - men’s cage title in1985.
Somehow, Zamar knows what it takes for the Red Warriors to reclaim lost glory. He said it’s just a matter putting to their hearts the three “Ds”: Discipline, defense, determination.
“‘Yan ang parati kong ini-emphasize sa team ko, magmula sa practice sessions namin. ‘Yan kasi ang foundation ng team. If my players will stick to it, we have a chance to beat any team,” he said.
To prime up his charges for big battles ahead, Zamar added UE has seen action in several pocket tournaments, both local and overseas, highlighted by their Southeast Asian swing in Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Armed with a veteran-laden crew led by superb guard Roi Sumang and Sierra Leone import Charles Mammie, Zamar has made it sure he still keeps the leadership role, insisting “no one is above the team.”
“This is a character-forming team. Hindi naman ito commercial club or even a professional team. So I have to send a message sa kanilang lahat. Kumbaga sa traffic, magkakabuhol-buhol kami kung wala silang kinikilalang batas,” he added.
Living up to his promise, Zamar didn’t hesitate benching the 6-foot-7 Mammie when he showed up late in their match against University of Santo Tomas in the preliminary round of the Filoil Flying-V Hanes Premier Cup.
“Binangko ko talaga siya. I talked to him personally and told him ‘You have to play within the team’s rules.’ Hindi pwede ‘yung may sarili kang diskarte,” he stated.
UE will be parading six fifth-year players in JM Noble, Lord Casajeros, Ralf Olivarez, Adi Santos, Jai Flores and JR Sumido when the Red Warriors start their title drive against Far Eastern University on June 29.
And Zamar is eager to how his wards will rise to the challenge.
“People will be expecting more from the team now. Pero wala ka naman rin pipillin. Maski nasa baba ka, may pressure pa rin na dapat tumaas ka. Kumbaga sa jet, gusto mo pa rin talaga na nasa higher altitude ka. Kaya hindi kami puwede maging kuntento. Ngayon na kasi ang pinakamahirap na laban,” he said.
