Five games into the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the De La Salle University Green Archers have yet to taste a single loss.
Their latest win at the expense of the Adamson Soaring Falcons featured a new face on the bench. La Salle’s latest recruit was McJour Luib, not as a player but as a member of the coaching staff.
“Okay naman. Nag-observe lang ako tapos nakikinig lang ako sa pinapagawa ni coach Aldin Ayo sa akin. Observe lang tapos siguro unti-unti lang,” commented the 2015 NCAA champion.
Luib disclosed that he is signed as one of La Salle’s scouts, specifically focusing on the opposition’s tactics. The adjustment process, though, is still underway as the Letranite just started last Friday after the Letran’s NCAA campaign ended.
“Siyempre sa una awkward pero tinanggap ko na tapos na ako. Yung trabaho lang na pinapagawa ni coach Aldin sa akin, yun lang ginagawa ko,” the 23 year old shared.
“Mahirap kasi tawag lang sa akin idol eh. Tawag ko rin sa kanila idol. Ganun lang din pero siguro in time.”
One of the current Green Archers whom Luib mentioned he played against with before is point guard Thomas Torres. Nevertheless, Luib stated that he and Torres mutually respect each other.
The Cagayan de Oro-native, who played his last-ever NCAA game last Wednesday, added, “Kahit na nagkalaban kami dati tapos ngayon parang magkakampi naman kami, okay naman ang respeto.”
Letran’s title defense ended on a low note as the Knights failed to qualify for the Final Four. While Luib played his final game for the Intramuros-based squad, his expertise as a player is being put to good use by Ayo.
“Siguro yung ginagawa ko lang, lalo na may practice plan kasi kami, ginagawa ko lang kung anong dapat papagawa as a coach.
“Kaya turing sa akin ni coach Aldin as a player kasi parang ako yung kalaban ng team A. Kasali ako sa team B parang ganun,” narrated Luib.
While Luib just started a coaching career, he didn’t discount the possibility of playing in the PBA soon.
“Baka magpa-draft ako this season,” clarified the newly christened assistant coach.
As one of the key members of Letran’s 2015 champion team, Luib is expected to contribute a lot of insights to the current batch of La Salle players. With him, Ayo, Louie Gonzales, and Glen Capacio on the La Salle bench, a UAAP championship may be on the horizon.
