A triumph for Xavier
Nothing beats seeing joy running triumphantly on the face of your son. The kind of happiness I saw on my 13-year-old Vincent’s face and on his basketball teammates’ was so electrifying I and the other Xavier parents were literally jumping for joy, too, when our sons won the Mini Philippine Athletic Youth Association recently.
It was indeed a sweet victory. After months of grueling training and a heartbreaking loss to Ateneo by one point last year, the Xavier grade school team made a come back and won the championship against La Salle Greenhills last February.
When the buzzer was pressed to signal the end of the game — with a score of 78-62 — the Xavier team was overjoyed. Their family, friends and teachers seated on the bleachers were ecstatic as they cheered them on. Dynamic tandem coach Owen Oliva and amiable assistant coach Dan Gonzales were grinning from ear to ear as they hugged the boys in jubilation. The boys embraced each other endlessly. Tears of joy and laughter were shed. It was truly one high moment in their young lives.
The triumph of the team is an even greater triumph for the coach. Coach Owen is so well loved by the boys as well as their parents.
Owen, 26, is a very dedicated coach of Xavier School PAYA mini team because his pursuit of happiness revolves around basketball.
His coaching background is very telling of his indomitable spirit and character — mostly winning championships in his many endeavors.
It comes as no surprise anymore considering that Owen was a varsity player for San Beda Red Lions when he was in college. This consistent dean’s lister finished Marketing Management in 2003 with academic distinction.
Coach Owen, who also works as operations manager for Mt. Carmel Print House, leads passionately and with a heart. He is one positive motivator who is highly trained in fundamental and scientific basketball skills development. That explains why he has the biggest heart when it comes to his boys. He is tireless in teaching and his passion is so evident. Every minute of training is never wasted because Coach Owen always has a plan. You will never catch him passive during any game.
Under his mentoring, our sons have grown in their confidence and skills and learned the value of team work — covering for each other where one is weak and trusting the stronger ones to lead them on.
With him as the coach of Xavier, we parents know that our children are not only learning the sport. He also rubs off on our children his positive energy and caring dynamism — traits that our boys will joyfully inherit when they become men.
Here’s to the Xavier team!
Here’s to Coach Owen!
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