Full circle with Chot, Aboy

BARCELONA – For Gilas head coach Chot Reyes and team manager Aboy Castro, their reunion is a positive omen as the Philippines embarks on a bold journey to gain international recognition as a major player at the FIBA World Cup in Spain on Aug. 30-Sept. 14.

Reyes, 50, and Castro, 42, go back a long, long way. They were together with the national team that competed at the FIBA-Asia Championships in 2005 and 2007 and with Coca-Cola, San Miguel Beer and Talk ‘N’ Text in the PBA. Now, they’ve rejoined forces in the country’s return to the global stage after 36 years.

Reyes, Castro and logistics director Andrew Teh are in this Catalan city to attend the FIBA World Cup draw this morning (Manila time) and check out the housing, training and playing facilities for Gilas leading up to the competition and during the tournament.  

Clearly, what binds Reyes and Castro is their consuming passion and love for the game. Castro, in fact, gave up a high-paying job as a senior manager at Proctor and Gamble in 1999 to throw his hat in the coaching derby without any experience calling the shots for any team. It was a leap of faith propelled by a calling to pursue a dream.

As a student, it didn’t seem like Castro was headed for a full-time engagement in sports. He finished elementary at La Salle Greenhills, moved to Philippine Science High School and earned a chemical engineering degree at the University of the Philippines. Castro liked to play basketball but was never good enough to even make the varsity. But he was fascinated with the game, the strategizing, motivating players and molding lives. If he couldn’t play like Ronnie Magsanoc, at least he could try reaching the next level as a coach.

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When Castro read in the newspapers that Reyes would bring over Pete Newell’s son Tom to conduct coaching clinics for beginners and advanced practitioners in 1999, he signed up and paid P12,000 to join the newcomers class. Some of his classmates were Nash Racela, John Flores, Djalma Arnedo, Jude Roque and Eric Gonzales. Eager to learn more, Castro paid another P12,000 for the advanced course. They were 50 in the advanced course but only 10 stayed on track to pursue a coaching career. Castro was one of the diehards. Literally, he paid his way up the ladder.

Aside from coaching, Castro branched out into other things after leaving his factory job. He opened a travel agency and a school called Learning Links Academy in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, near Silang, Cavite. His wife Luisa became the school directress and today, Learning Links has a student population of 500 from nursery to high school with a reputation for upholding a high standard of education.

In 2002, Reyes popped a question that changed Castro’s life. Reyes offered Castro a job to be one of his assistant coaches at Coca-Cola in the PBA. Castro accepted without hesitation and filled in the gap created by Binky Favis who moved out to assist Joseph Uichico with the national team. When Favis returned to the Tigers camp, Castro was asked by Reyes to stay on. Reyes and Castro were together for two PBA titles with Coca-Cola.

Reyes brought Castro over to San Miguel for a conference and that resulted almost in another championship. The Beermen blew a 2-0 series lead and lost to Ginebra San Miguel in the finals. Then, Reyes was tapped for the national team and took Castro along. “Those were tough times,” recalled Castro. “I remember once, flying in from Qatar, staying in Manila briefly and leaving that night for Australia to scout teams. I was Chot’s advance scout and because everyone had specific roles, I did mine alone. Another time, I took a four-hour ride to a city outside of Shanghai to scout the Chinese team. I was the only Filipino in the stands and hid my videocam while filming. I was so scared I would get caught. Luckily, I got away with it.”

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When Reyes went to Talk ‘N’ Text in 2008, Castro followed and their partnership resulted in four more titles. “I owe it all to Chot,” said Castro. “He gave me the chance to live my dream. It’s a blessing that we’ve won championships. Chot has won eight titles in 15 PBA finals of 42 career conferences. That’s a remarkable winning rate. He could’ve won 11 titles but lost two in overtime in Game 7 and one after blowing a 2-0 series lead in the finals. From my first national team experience in 2005, I’ve come full circle with Chot now that we’re together again for the World Cup. That’s a nine-year journey. Chot himself started with the national team as Tim Cone’s assistant with the Centennials in 1998 so it’s been a 16-year journey for him.”

With Gilas, Castro is reprising his role at Talk ‘N’ Text as team manager. No coaching for the moment. Castro is focused on front and back office responsibilities. At the same time, he’s the program director for golf and triathlon with the MVP Sports Foundation where Reyes is executive director. “Both golf and triathlon are close to my heart,” said Castro. “My oldest son Enzo, who’s now 15, is a golf prodigy and my neighbor in Sta. Rosa is golfer Carito Villaroman. I do biking and running. My wife and I are very much into physical fitness. I join triathlons, too.”

For the FIBA World Cup, Castro is applying his managerial experience in supervising Gilas’ preparations, excluding the coaching, conditioning and training components. He has taken over the role left by Butch Antonio who was assigned to Meralco in the PBA and is the MVP Sports Foundation project director for basketball, badminton and boxing. And Castro is doing a solid job, hoping the magic spell that Reyes and he cast in the PBA will mesmerize Gilas’ opponents at the FIBA World Cup. Their partnership will make a difference for sure in the final reckoning.