"The National Basketball Coaches Commission is under the umbrella of the Basketball Association of the Philippines. It so happened that the Vietnam Basketball Association was looking for a Filipino coach through BAP" paliwanag ni Bay Cristobal, executive director ng NBCC.
"They were looking for a young coach daw," dagdag ni Magallanes, na bahagi ng coaching staff ng URBL selection na naglaro sa Sinulog Cup sa Cebu noong Enero sa ilalim ni Francis Rodriguez. "I submitted my resume. After one week, pinatawag ako ni boss (BAP secretary-general) Graham Lim. He interviewed me, and I got the opportunity to go to Vietnam."
Pero mukhang malaking hamon para kay Magallanes ang gawing sikat na sport ang bas-ketbol sa Vietnam, dahil ang naghahari doon ay soccer.
"In a rate of one to ten, if Filipinos are a ten, Vietnam is a four. They’re really behind in terms of technology, com-pared to the Philippines," pali-wanag ni Magallanes.
Pero hindi lang pagiging coach ng kanilang young men’s team ang magiging papel ni Magallanes. Dada-yuhin niya ang mga lalawigan ng Vietnam upang palaga-napin ang basketbol. Kasama ito sa kanyang kontrata, na di kukulangin ng dalawang taon.
"We are so happy about it," sabi ni Cristobal. "Maraming Filipino coaches ang laging nasa ibang bansa. And other countries are looking forward to having Filipino coaches."
Minsan, ganyan talaga. Ang ating yaman ay umaa-paw sa ibang bansa. Kung tutuusin, mapipilitan pa tayong lalong palawakin ang ating kaalaman, nang sa ganoon ay hindi tayo maabot ng ating mga kalapit-bansa.