Pocari Sweat’s new head coach Rico De Guzman is as tough as he looks
The former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tiger first got his head coaching break with Army and continues to mentor Army’s men’s team in the PVL.
Used to the rigid environment of military training, De Guzman admittedly had to adjust when he first took the reigns for Pocari Sweat.
With Army, De Guzman recalls heavily valuing attendance in practice. Admittedly, this wasn’t the same with Pocari Sweat, for whom he has been an assistant coach for the two previous conferences.
“Sa Military, talagang military yan. Nandun yung military, lahat ng galaw, military.
“Pero dito, kailangan kong pakisamahan itong mga civillian. Kailangan alagaan. ‘Pag military ‘to, alam na kumilos, pag nagbigay ka ng time, nandoon sa eksaktong time,” De Guzman said after the Lady Warriors pulled off tight win over the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, Sunday evening. “Pero itong mga civillian, ‘di mo maobliga. Yun ang pinapa-implement ko sa kanila ngayon. Kaunting military discipline.
“Ako pa nga nag-a-adjust ngayon. Pero konti-konti lang. Sa susunod, ma-aadapt na nila ‘yung pagiging military. Kumabaga andun pagiging strikto ko. ‘Di ko pinapatigil ‘yung player hanggang di nagagawa ‘yung pinapagawa ko,” added De Guzman who has won two V-League championships with the Army Lady Troopers.
For the Lady Warriors, this is a welcome change. According to veteran libero Melissa Gohing, she prefers a stricter environment, similar to her time under Ramil De Jesus at the De La Salle University.
“Medyo hindi strict kasi si coach John [Abella]. Nakikisama talaga siya sa players. Pero it’s a good thing din kasi sanay ako sa strict na coaching. Hindi ako sanay sa lie low,” said Pocari Sweat’s skipper. “Mas gusto ko din kasi na disiplinado ‘yung players. Ayaw ko na may nag-a-absent, na may nale-late. Gusto ko disiplanado kami knowing na defending champion kami.
“We have to act like a champion.”
De Guzman not only excels in training, he is also a dedicated tactician, having helped the Lady Warriors in all three of their championship campaigns.
“There’s not much of a difference because coach Rico has been there ever since.
“Grabe din siya with helping out before. It’s the same lang pero siya lang ‘yung mas vocal ngayon. Siya ‘yung nag-iinsist ng practice on time. Ever since naman, coach Rico has really put in the effort in coaching us even as an assistant. When it comes to plays and palitan ng players, siya din so there’s not much of a difference,” Gohing added.
And with this newfound discipline, the Lady Warriors will be even more dangerous as they look to win their second-straight Open Conference championship.
