Sauler dumalaw sa Spurs

MANILA, Philippines - Nagtungo sina La Salle head coach Juno Sauler kasama sina assistants Allan Caidic at Jun Limpot  sa San Antonio, Texas para obserbahan ang workouts ng four-time NBA champion Spurs at panoorin ang da-lawang pre-season games sa AT&T Center galing sa imbitasyon ni assistant coach Chip Engelland.

Umalis sina Sauler, Caidic at Limpot ng Manila sakay ng PAL flight noong Sabado ng gabi at nagtungo sa San Antonio via San Francisco at Dallas.

Magbabalik sila sa susunod na linggo.

Nagdesisyon si  Ambassador Eduardo (Dan-ding) Cojuangco, ang No. 1 patron ng La Salle, na ipadala sila sa Spurs camp dalawang linggo bago angkinin ng Green Archers ang UAAP senior men’s basketball championship noong Oktubre 12.

“The trip isn’t a bonus or a reward for the coaches because Ambassador Danding had this in mind even before the Archers swept the second round and strung up nine wins in a row,” sabi ng isang La Salle insider. “He asked Chip to show the ropes to the coaches and expose them to how a first-class organization in the NBA works.”

Sinabi ng 40-anyos na si Sauler na mamatyagan niyang mabuti si Spurs coach Gregg Popovich na kanyang iniidolo.

“I’m excited to observe how coach Pop relates with his players, what he says before and after a game,” sabi ni Sauler na naglaro ng tatlong UAAP seasons sa La Salle sa ilalim ni coach Gabby Velasco kasunod si Virgil Villavicencio.

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to speak with coach Pop directly but just to be able to watch him conduct practice and observe up close how he directs his team during a game will be an expe-rience of a lifetime.  I’m looking forward to learning a lot from coach Pop and his staff.”

Ang isang bagay na tututukan ni Sauler ay ang video coordination.

Kumuha ang Spurs ng apat na editor/scouts para mag-record, produce at splice videos na gagamitin ng mga coaches at players.

Sinabi naman ng 50-anyos na si Caidic na oobserbahan niya ang Spurs shooting drills na kanyang gagamitin sa La Salle.

“I’m also excited to watch coach Pop because we can learn so much from him,” ani Caidic.