TNT is giving assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga all the time he needs after being called upon by Ateneo de Manila University for help in dealing with the aftermath of the deaths of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia.
The former player-turned-mentor has been asked to report to the school president, Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, being the Blue Eagles’ longest-tenured staffer, even though he left his post as the lead deputy to Tab Baldwin after UAAP Season 88.
“He’s no longer part of the Ateneo coaching staff,” said Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes after their 106-98 win over Ginebra in Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Wednesday.
“Still, we allowed him to leave practice yesterday. He was constantly on the phone, and actually asked to report to the university president.”
Arespacochaga had already submitted his resignation before the recent UAAP season to focus on TNT and Gilas Pilipinas Girls, but finds himself aiding the Blue Eagles in light of the situation that happened in Aurora, Quezon, last Monday.
The development broke out while the Tropang 5G were in the midst of their preparations for Game 4 of the title series. The 51-year-old deputy, who is an Ateneo lifer, has since become busy being involved with almost everything that concerns the issue.
One of the players who perished, Adili, was a mentee of Arespacochaga over the last two seasons. He had taken the Nigerian center under his wing, from his Team B days to becoming a part of the main roster for Season 88.
Arespacochaga was also among the Blue Eagles who paid their respects to Baterbonia on Wednesday night by visiting his wake in Quezon City, together with the school’s athletics director Em Fernandez and assistant coaches.
Still, he made it a point to be in attendance for Game 4 and helped Reyes from the sidelines in downing the Kings to reduce the series to a virtual best-of-three.
Still the Tropang 5G is giving one of their long-time assistants any leeway he needs to be of help to the school — and possibly to others involved.
“We’re giving him a lot of time, and we told Coach Sandy not to worry about his responsibilities with TNT because for us, that’s more important,” Reyes said.
“There are a lot of things more important than a championship series, and that’s one of them,” he added.
“So, we allowed him to take his time.”
