But after consulting his closest friends, Chua decided to stick it out and prove to Sta. Lucia management he’s not the type to give up easily. He went back to the basics, found inspiration in legendary coach John Wooden, recruited an import who was forever in his wish list and motivated his players to show they were no pushovers.
The Realtors bounced back from a forgettable start to win eight of their last 10 games and are now in contention for one of two outright semifinal berths. Sta. Lucia closes out its double-round classification schedule against Purefoods tonight.
"I thought of giving up," confessed Chua. "Ano ba ito? Bakit ganito? We tried to do our best. We did everything possible to win. But sunod-sunod pa rin ang talo namin. I consulted my closest friends–Joe Lipa, Itoy Esguerra, Nemie Villegas and Tito Talao. We all met in our house. They advised me not to be afraid of losing. We lost close games because our import was weak. I remembered what Wooden wrote in his book–that we shouldn’t worry about something you can’t control."
Chua singled out three factors that triggered the Realtors’ remarkable turnaround.
First, he regained his confidence. Second, Ryan Fletcher arrived. And third, management, especially PBA chairman Buddy Encarnado, never lost faith in the team.
Fletcher, who played for Ginebra in 2000 and 2001, was a perfect fir for the Realtors after sputtering with Richard Jeter and Raheim Brown.
"Kevin Freeman was supposed to replace Brown but backed out at the last minute because of an injury," related Chua. "We had to persuade Brown to play one last game while we negotiated for Ryan to come. It took us four to five days to receive confirmation from Ryan whose agent wanted us to sign somebody else because Ryan just finished playing in France where he wasn’t paid."
Fletcher’s first game in a Sta. Lucia uniform was a six-point loss to Red Bull but Chua sensed a reversal of fortunes was around the corner. He felt it in his bones.
"Ryan has matured," said Chua. "When he first played here, he was only 23. Now he’s 28 with a lot of experience. He’s a different player. He’s become an import who can do it all. He made us a different team. I call him ‘White Hawk’ and Drago because he’s such a dominating player on the floor. He can post up, shoot outside, defend, rebound, whatever. We get along. Ryan jokes that I’m his agent, manager, buddy, counselor, adviser and coach. He’s extremely hard-working. After practice, he stays behind to run, do exercises and shoot hundreds of shots."
Chua said he took the pressure off his players, made it easier for them to play together as a unit by defining their roles clearly and gave "marginal" players the opportunity to step up.
"We didn’t look at the standings," he continued. "We took things on a per possession, per game basis. I told the guys to play their game, relax, have fun and not to think of losing. The guys accepted their roles. We designated who would be our scorers and our stoppers, who would start and who would come off the bench. We continue to be a running team but we’re more defense-minded now."
Losing Marlou Aquino to injury in Fletcher’s third game was a big blow. The Skyscraper suffered an L-shaped fracture in his left hand. Aquino’s hand is in a semi-cast and his condition will be evaluated by doctors at the end of the month. He has missed Sta. Lucia’s last eight outings.
"Marlou was playing very well," noted Chua. "When we lost Marlou, we took it as another test for us. We dedicated every game to him because he’s been working so hard. It was a new challenge to our team. We had nothing to lose because without Marlou, we weren’t expected to win."
Encarnado was also Sta. Lucia’s rallying point.
"We know how busy Boss Buddy is so we really appreciate it when he takes time out to be with us," said Chua. "I saw in his face, he wasn’t giving up on us even when we were 1-6. He never got mad at us. He just encouraged us to do our best. After we beat Shell in Roxas City, Boss Buddy brought us to Boracay for a break."
With three players earning P500,000 a month up to 2008, the Realtors find it difficult to squeeze more high-profile stars in the lineup because of the salary cap. But Chua said that’s no problem.
"I recruit players who are willing to play even if not with a big salary," he said. "I like players with a big heart. It’s not about talent. It’s about hard work and sacrifice. Look at my wrecking crew–Ricky Calimag, Oliver Agapito, Paeng Santos, Chester Tolomia, Norman Gonzalez and Ibet Demape. It’s like another life for them. They all have something to prove with or without a bonus kanya nagpapakamatay sila for the team every game. Their attitude is they have nothing to lose. I purposely bring in players with something to prove. Remember, I brought in guys like Bobby Jose and Alvin Magpantay to play for Tanduay. It was no accident that with those guys, Tanduay won seven titles in nine PBL Finals."
Chua said Fletcher’s wife Sarah was supposed to leave this week but decided to stay until the end of the conference.
"Ryan and Sarah have been married just over a year," said Chua. "Okay silang dalawa. Once, coming home from a Lucena game at night, we all went down from the team bus for a stop. Since it was so dark, Sarah fell into an open canal sa tabi ng daan. Chester saw her and was the first to pull her out. She fainted twice after that incident. As for Ryan, he couldn’t walk because of a groin injury after the Purefoods game. He wanted a pain-killer but Dr. Bate said not to risk it. Instead, Dr. Bate suggested a wrap from his groin to the waist. The pain went away and now Ryan is playing without the wrap."
Chua said Dennis Espino is playing 40 percent of his potential because of nagging back and calf pains but insists on seeing action. Kenneth Duremdes is also playing through personal problems involving his family. The stars’ example of coping with physical and mental problems is an inspiration to the team, added Chua.
Regarding a recent tiff with Alaska, Chua said that’s all in the past.
"In fairness to Tim (Cone), he didn’t really know what happened," said Chua. "When Tim saw the video showing (Dickie) Simpkins elbowing me in the back after the game, he texted me to say sorry, that he felt bad and asked if Simpkins could call me. Simpkins admitted his second motion and apologized to me. I told him to forget it, that it’s all part of the game."
How far Sta. Lucia will go this conference is anybody’s guess.
"The competition is so balanced," said Chua. "Nobody is really favored to win any game. We are at a big disadvantage because we chose not to sign up Fil-Ams. We have nothing against legitimate Fil-Ams who have a right to play in the PBA. We’re only against fake Fil-Ams. They’re a different breed with different blood. They’re bigger and faster. It’s a challenge for us to show we can win even without Fil-Ams."