Thursday, May 8, 2008 · Alaska Aces in Action

The most famous members of the Alaska team of the 90s include Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins and Poch Juinio. An equally important though less famous member is Roel Gomez who provided instant offense off the bench.

Gomez joined Alaska in 1991 and was part of ten championship teams under coach Tim Cone. When he retired from the PBA in 2001 he went to New York to find greener pastures. But that did not work out.

After less than a year in the States he and his family decided to return to the Philippines. Among the first job offers on the table was to coach University of Cebu (UC).

Sabi ko sa school officials wala akong experience sa coaching, said Gomez. Sabi nila dalhin ko iyong sistema sa Alaska sa school kaya pumayag na akong magcoach. I recruited fresh graduates to serve as my assistants.

Gomez still member of Alaska family Gomez is himself a product of UC then known as Cebu Central Colleges. He graduated in 1987 and played in the Philippine Basketball League as a member of the RP Youth team under Purefoods and then Magnolia.

He started his coaching career modestly by handling the UC team for the girls as well as the junior squad. Now he is in charge of the whole program.

Education pa rin ang priority ko, said Gomez. Isa sa mga requirement ko from my players ay kailangan makatapos sila sa college. Tinutulungan naman sila ng school. Kapag nahihirapan, merong tutors to help. Kapag merong magaling na player pero bagsak sa studies tinatanggal ko sa lineup.

One of his players, Kenneth Kurt Sesarte actually placed second in the board examinations for customs examiner.

Sa ibang school siguro tinotolerate ang mga players na hindi nag-aaral, said Gomez. Sa amin hindi pwede iyon. Gusto namin ng school officials na turuang mabuti ang mga bata hindi lang bilang athletes pero students muna.

Gomez is so loyal to Alaska that he wanted his team to wear red and white during competitions.

Hindi pala pwede iyon dahil meron nang sariling colors ang school, said Gomez. Pero kung ako masusunod red and white ang uniform namin kasi iyon ang colors ng Alaska.

Among the most important contributions of Gomez to his Alaska team is something that is never seen by fans: He helped push the first team to become better because he competed hard against them at practice.

Sabi nga ni Tim (coach Cone) sa amin: Kayo ang nagpagaling sa first five dahil kalaban ninyo sila sa practice, said Gomez. Nakakaintindi kami ng roles namin. Never sa isang team na puro first five. Merong top five. Merong supporting cast. Ako member ng supporting cast pero malaki pa rin ang role namin sa team.

Gomez said that Alaska was so successful because even their imports had clearly defined roles.

Never naman sinabi ni Tim na kailangang umiskor ng marami ang imports namin, said Gomez. Binibigyan sila ng role nila sa team. Nakasama ko sila Marquis Bragg. Sila Devin Davis. Pinaka disiplinado talaga si Sean (Chambers). Grabe iyong work ethic niya. Hindi nagpapatalo kahit sa ensayo. At kung gaano siya kagaling sa ensayo ganoon din siya sa laro.

A welcome consequence of a coaching job is that Gomez is almost as fit now as when he played basketball.

Tumaba rin ako noon, said Gomez. Umabot nga ng 40 ang waistline ko. At sinabihan ako ng doctor na magpapayat or else baka magkakasakit ako. Kaya nagpapayat ko. Nagjogging ako. Then I ate only oatmeal for breakfast. Bumalik nga sa ganito ang katawan ko ulit. Maganda ang fit ang katawan. Malayo ka sa sakit at lagi kang masigla.

Gomez shares that another secret of success is a stable and harmonious family life.

Nakakadistract sa players kapag may problema, said Gomez. Kaya iyong team namin ang ganda noon. Kasi nandoon ang harmony, nandoon ang friendship. Mula kay Joaqui (Trillo) hanggang sa mga ballboys. Isang organization. Isang team. Isang family.

And leading by example is coach Tim Cone.

Ang maganda kay Tim para sa akin, wala siyang pinipili, said Gomez. May mga superstar players kami, pero kapag nasa game na pantay pantay kami. At never siya nag blame ng players. Ako nalipat na ako sa ibang teams, kapag natatalo turuan na. Nasisira tuloy ang teamwork. Pero kay Tim, iba. Never siya nag blame ng players.