Indons’ Pinoy coach torn between roots and duty

HO CHI MINH (Via Globe Telecom)–Though representing a different country, Gerardo "Bong" Ramos stressed his heart belongs to his native land and he’ll be cheering for the Philippines in all its games here–except, of course, his Indonesian team.

"Trabaho lang ito and nothing else," said Ramos on his head-coaching job with Indonesia in the 22nd Southeast Asian Games basketball competition, which unwraps today at the Military Gym.

"At first, I had second thought when the job was offered to me. But after thinking it over, I realized this is God’s blessing just like the job he gave me with the Aspac Texmaco (in the Indonesian league)," Ramos also said. "When I think si God ang boss ko and not the Philippines nor Indonesia, na-relax na ako and I accepted the job."

Ramos, a former Mapua Cardinal in the NCAA and long-time member of the national pool under coach Ron Jacobs in the 80s, was offered to call the shots for the Indon national squad after steering Aspac Texmaco to back-to-back championships in the Indonesian league.

Ramos has long been a regular fixture in the Indon league, starting when he, together with now Cebu resident Daryll Smith, was tapped to play as import of Pelita Jaya in 1988.

He corrected the notion that he was brought to Pelita Jaya by coach Nat Canson. He said: "I was the one who recommended coach Nat to the Pelita Jaya bosses."

"I was with the Pasig Giants together with Joel Santos, Jerome Cueto, Leo Agsunod and others when I was spotted by Pelita Jaya. Tapos iyon, dumating na ang alok sa akin na maging import nila. I played with them for three in a half years," he recalled.

It was in 1992 when he returned to the Philippines and decided to make the jump to coaching.

He took over Joel Banal as Mapua coach in the early 90s. And he flourished as a bench tactician during the four-year existence of the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.

He served as coach Boyzie Zamar’s chief deputy as the Philippines re-conquered Kuala Lumpur in the 2001 SEAG.

"Malayo pa rin ang Pilipinas sa kalaban sa SEA Games.

Pero huag lang silang masyadong magkumpiyansa sa Malaysia, Thailand at sa team ko," he said.

"Ang Malaysia nag-improve ang depensa. Pero overall game, malayong-malayo pa rin sa atin. Ang Malaysia, Thailand at Indonesia, laban-laban lang sa silver dito," he added.