Having been in the pro league for 11 years, Ryan Araña has become a leader for the young GlobalPort team. Wednesday evening, as the Batang Pier took on the Kia Picanto, his leadership rose to another level.
During a timeout in the game’s final 1:37 and with the game all but settled, 103-88, the 33-year-old was seen on the sidelines coaching his teammates — drawing up a play on head coach Pido Jarencio’s whiteboard, that is.
“Habang naghu-huddle sila, umupo lang ako then binigay sa akin yung board: ‘Sige, Ry, ikaw mag-drawing ng last play for Stanley.’ So nag-drawing ako and everyone was listening,” the six-foot-two guard explained of that event.
“Naka-score kami, naka-score si Stanley, pero nag-sub, kaya hindi natuloy yung play. So galit na galit ako sa gilid,” said Araña in jest with a wide grin.
“Si coach Pido, tinatawanan lang ako.”
His diagram may not have been executed, but Araña and the Batang Pier still had a lot to smile about as they earned a 108-91 victory over the Picanto, which improves their card to 5-5 and brightens their playoff hopes.
And that event where the players were given freedom only shows how much fun and love has filled the Batang Pier squad ever since Jarencio took the head coaching reins from Franz Pumaren, just before the 2017-18 season opened.
“Mga treatment kasi ng mga players sa isa’t isa akala mo mga college players,” said the veteran mentor. “[Pero yung] respetuhan nandiyan lahat. Nakita kong umupo si Ryan [kaya sabi ko] ‘sige ikaw na.’ Yun, mga naglalaro na lang.
“Binibigay natin sa kanila yun. Pero ‘pag trabaho, trabaho naman yung mga yan.”
Araña, on the other hand, expressed admiration for the UAAP champion tactician and the team’s improved dynamic, which can be seen with the way they have been playing as a unit in this season’s All-Filipino cagefest.
“Yun yung kagandahan sa team namin kasi si coach Pido, pwedeng biru-biruin mo lang eh,” he said. “Respeto namin kay coach Pido is mataas, so yun siguro yung advantage namin sa ibang team na okay si coach Pido.
“Parang barkadahan lang yung samahan.”
