PAGADIAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR—Acting an assistant coach for a young team like MFT Iligan in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge is a big role to fill.
But imagine what one can do as a playing assistant coach, showing the youthful players how to do it on the floor in the actual game?
That’s what Rendell Dela Rea has been doing for the Archangels since the second conference kicked off last November 20.
And he’s not just there to inspire – he’s there on the court to play ball. Especially now that their top two guns in Jack Hoyohoy and Lester Tamayo have left for the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitational.
“Mahirap talaga kapag wala ‘yung dalawa. Pero dumepensa lang kami nang dumepensa hanggang dumating ‘yung opensa.”
Dela Rea propelled Iligan to an 80-77 stunner over Roxas, Tuesday at the Pagadian City Gymnasium here.
The 43-year-old cager unloaded a team-high 19 points on a scorching 4-of-5 clip from deep. He also had six rebounds.
“Yun talaga ang forte ko eh, three points. Kaya bibitaw at bibitaw ako,” said Dela Rea.
“Kahit matanda na ako, pinupush ko sila. Maging spark man lang ako, maging leader sa loob.”
Dela Rea was invited by Archangels head coach Kiko Flores to play for his team here in the Chooks-to-Go-backed league since they are neighbors.
But the former quickly issued a disclaimer to the latter that he’s not in game shape.
“Tulungan kita bro, para na rin kitang kapatid eh. Basta ako hindi ako 100 percent fit pero I’ll try my best,” recalled Dela Rea on what he said to Flores.
But Flores has only one thing to say after Dela Rea’s impressive outing, coupled with a throwback performance as well from Markee Bautista, another playing assistant coach for Iligan.
Bautista wound up with 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting alongside seven rebounds and two steals in their 69-87 loss to BYB Kapatagan last Monday.
“May asim pa sila!” Flores proudly exclaimed.
