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| Ivan Saldajeno |
QUEZON CITY—It has been a long time since the MBA closed shop in 2002, and since the home-and-away league folded, the likes of Willie Miller, Romel Adducul, Eddie Laure, Rudy Hatfield, and even Alex Compton eventually got a career in the PBA.
Sonny Manucat, however, went for a different path.
After a short-lived pro basketball career that saw him play for Batangas with Laure and Nueva Ecija alongside Miller, the former San Beda player found himself returning to Marist, his high school alma mater, as coach.
"Nag-start siya sa pinanggalingan kong high school, which is Marist. Hinire ako doon," Manucat told Dugout Philippines after the Golden Bears started their campaign in City Hoops U-15 Division at the AFP Wellness Center on Monday.
He, however, admitted that he wanted to join the PBA after the Patriots disbanded right after the 2001 season.
"Napunta na ako sa coaching eh, kaya di na ako nakakapractice," Manucat, who later played in lower tier regional leagues NBC and Liga Pilipinas, relayed why his PBA dream came to a halt.
Meanwhile, the high school gaffer is open to coach college teams and even the PBA.
"It's a big exposure. If I have an opportunity, iga-grab ko yun," said Manucat.
On what the MBA experience taught him in preparation for the coaching job, he answered, "Discipline. Madisiplina ako as a player. So as [far as] coaching [is concerned], alam ko yung inside and out ng basketball."
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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