Coach Henry Walker?
That might be the billing of the 6-foot-5 import in the Summer Super 8 tournament in Macau, China from July 17 to 22, when the Blackwater Elite take on seven other Asian club teams.
Walker disclosed as much last July 4 after the Elite’s loss to the now semis-bound San Miguel Beermen, saying that the team has allowed him to be part of the coaching staff headed by Bong Ramos.
The American reinforcement, now on his second tour of duty with Blackwater, won’t see action in the cagefest, as the tourney’s organizers only allowed participating ball clubs to field in local players.
He saw action in the 2018 Pacific Caesar Pro Tournament in Surabaya, Indonesia early this July, where the Elite emerged as champions and Walker was named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“I’ll be coaching though. For real. I’ll get my first taste of being a coach,” said the 30-year-old Walker.
“Blackwater is allowing me to be part of the coaching staff, to see the ins and outs of what the guys do everyday. So it’s a building block for me,” added the 10-year pro.
More than his NBA pedigree, Walker actually has the tools to be a coach.
In his first stint with the Elite back in the 2017 Governors’ Cup, Walker turned a hopeless team carrying a 0-3 card into a playoff contender – they were even minutes away from the semis then.
He didn’t just take over games and score in bunches, but also became a leader that pushed his teammates to become better. Walker’s brothers-in-arms have attested as much many times.
And in this 2018 Commissioner’s Cup, Walker helped the Elite prevent their 0-6 card from worsening by defeating the Magnolia Hotshots, 86-84, last June 6 through his game-winning dunk.
“Hopefully, one day, I get to coach,” Walker said.
“That’s cool.”
