ANTIPOLO — Jorge Gallent turned to one thing he loves the most upon being appointed as San Miguel’s head coach prior to the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The long-time Beermen assistant played a round of golf to take his mind off the magnitude of the development. After all, he will be taking the job previously held by Leo Austria, the man responsible for their nine titles in the last eight years.
“I played golf after that. Just to relax,” said the 54-year-old Alabang resident, who has been with the league’s winningest ball club since 2011. “Yes. Just to relax.”
There’s pressure in fulfilling such a role and Gallent himself admits as much, although he finds solace from the support SMB’s top brass is giving him.
In fact, he even feels lucky to have the backing of his bosses, led by no less than San Miguel Corporation President and CEO Ramon S. Ang.
“I’m just very lucky that the bosses – Boss RSA, Boss Al (SMC Sports Director Alfrancis Chua), Boss Robert (team governor Robert Non) – gave me this opportunity to coach a great organization,” Gallent said.
“I’m very happy. Pressured, yes, but, you know, the management is always there to support us. So, there’s nothing to worry about,” he added.
And after all, Gallent manning the sidelines isn’t something new. The former B-Meg chief mentor handled the Beermen on an interim basis in the previous Commissioner’s Cup when Austria got placed under health protocols.
That, plus being worry-free ultimately led to a successful debut Sunday night as San Miguel kept Phoenix Super LPG winless through a 114-93 romp.
Asked how has the transition been thus far, Gallent said that there aren’t really any major changes in what the team is doing, simply minor tweaks.
“As I told them, we just have to fix little, minor things. But nothing major,” he said shortly after the match at the Ynares Center here.
“So, the things we were doing in the past few games, we just fixed it a little. Which we’re doing good.”
Though he may consult his predecessor soon, now that the Beermen have begun a new era after Austria.
“Siguro in a few weeks – or in a few days,” Gallent said.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
