Alfrancis Chua has never really seen himself as an executive, even now.
The San Miguel Corporation sports director said as much after being named the Danny Floro Executive of the Year in the 25th annual PBA Press Corps Awards, Monday night at the Novotel Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
“Hanggang ngayon, I never thought or wala sa utak ko na executive ako eh,” he said.
“I just talk to the players, the coaches, the managers, the governors of the teams, telling them to keep on working hard to develop.”
Chua’s journey to being one of the top executives in Philippine sports today was a long one – a classic worked-his-way-up tale.
Back in the mid-90s, he began his career as head coach of the Stag Pale Pilseners in the PBL, leading the team to a grand slam. He achieved the same results with the Tanduay Rhum Masters both in the PBL and the PBA.
Still young, he learned plenty under coach Norman Black in Pop Cola and, later on, the Sta. Lucia Realtors, serving as one of Black’s assistant coaches.
And these experiences have helped him develop his own brand of leadership.
“You know, I played since I was in high school (Letran) ’til college (UST). I was also an import in Taiwan. Siguro nakatulong sa’kin dito is knowing the game. I’ve also been a coach for how many years in the PBA.
“And I can feel ‘yung kailangan ng mga players, mga coach. At nararamdaman ko yung mga problema ng mga coach at kung ano yung mga needs nila ‘cause I was there before,” pointed out Chua, who’s been SMC’s sports director since 2015.
During his term as sports director, he transitioned well into the suit, as San Miguel’s Robert Non and Purefoods’ Rene Pardo guided him as well. And he made sure to pay tribute to his mentors by bringing them up to the stage to join him.
Chua receiving the Danny Floro trophy was a no-brainer, as all three SMC teams – the San Miguel Beermen, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and the Magnolia Hotshots – each won championships in the previous season.
It all started when the Beermen won their fourth straight all-Filipino crown; followed by the Gin Kings lording over the Commissioner’s Cup; and lastly the Hotshots winning the Governors’ Cup to end their four-year title drought.
But, as has been said many times, Chua declared they have no plans of stopping anytime soon.
“I tell them it’s just one conference. Get every conference,” said Chua, on keeping his teams hungry for more. “Sabi ko ang aim niyo dapat is sino makaka-grand slam sa inyo. Our teams are all level … Lahat yan maayos na team.
“Basta kailangan lang ‘wag silang makumpyansa. I keep on telling the players ‘wag kayong makumpyansa sa ano mang team na meron tayo. ‘Pag wala ng hardwork, tapos na tayo.”
