What they say about Siot

Here are excerpts of the five best write-ups of over 200 submitted by participants of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) school organ Varsitarian’s eighth annual "Inkblots" seminar and fellowship at the St. Thomas Aquinas Research Center on the Espana campus last week.

The write-ups were based on the mock press conference, featuring Ginebra San Miguel assistant coach Siot Tanquingcen, that was the highlight of the sportswriting portion of the seminar.

Prizes donated by the Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Star, Sonia Trading, Emerald Headway and Atlas Publishing were given to the top five writers, namely, (in order) Amilof Inso of St. Louis University, Baguio City; Jose Antonio Tamayo of Angelicum College, Quezon City; Manuel Jeffrey Sistoso of the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod; Ronel Quiocho of Ramon Magsaysay Technological University, Zambales; and Augustus Franco Janiel of Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija.

The excerpts:

From Amilof Inso — "It is better to fall on the roof than not trying to reach the star." This line might come from a prominent scientist but you’ll be shocked to know it is from Siot Tanquingcen, the former Ginebra head coach. Like other inspiring stories, Tanquingcen has a story to tell.

"Tanquingcen carries his real name Bethune. He was once an ordinary benchwarmer before becoming a scholar in basketball in the 1990s. He joined the 1996 PBA rookie draft but misfortune struck him when he was not chosen. He lost hope to pursue his basketball profession yet his passion and love for sports stayed in his heart.

"If you go for something you love, it does not really mean that you will get it on the first or second crack," he says.

"He believed that God has a plan for him — a plan that will change his life forever. He continued seeking a place in basketball while practicing his profession as an accountant. God gave him the determination to pave his way to the PBA."

From Jose Antonio Tamayo — "Mahirap man ang daan sa buhay maliit na pag-asa lamang ang magbibigay liwanag sa upos ng natapong pangarap." Ito ang minsang pinagdaanan ng sikat na coach ng Ginebra, Bethune (Siot) Tanquingcen ang aktibong coach na nagbigay ng korona sa isa sa pinakasikat na grupo ng basketbol sa Pilipinas.

"Ang buhay nga naman ay tila pag-ikot ng bola.Sino ang mag-aakala na ang isang ehemplong tulad ni Tanquingcen ay nakaranas ng pagkatalo sa larong kanyang pinakamamahal. Sa kabila ng pagkatalo siya ay bumangon ulit at itinaas ang bandila ng kanyang pangarap.

"Noong 1996 sa dalawampung rookie applicants, isa siya sa tatlong manlalarong hindi natanggap. Ang pangyayaring ito ay hindi naging sukatan para siya ay sumuko."

From Manuel Jeffrey Sistoso — "Siot Tanquingcen may not be your typical superstar. Standing 5-8, he has become an icon of Pinoy basketball, silently though. Siot is a certified public accountant, proving that not all basketball players contribute less to society other than touchdowns and dribbles.

"His experiences tell a lot about how an ordinary person dreams success. Starting as a not so important player in his team, Siot turned out to become a playmaker in his own right. He believes that basketball is not all about one person — the coach or the best player. It’s always about the team. This point of view, with all his humility, paves the way for success to actually be with him, no matter what it takes and the consequences are."

From Ronel Quiocho — "Mula sa isang simpleng hangarin na abutin ang bituin, sisibol ang adhikang masilayan ang tugatog ng katanyagan. Datapwat, bumilang ng napakaraming taon, ang naglalagablab na puso’y patuloy na didingas makamit lamang ang hinahangad na pangarap. Hindi na inisip kung saan siya babagsak, mahalaga’y sinubukan at patuloy pang susubukan.

"Ako may hindi mahalaga sa inyo ngayon. Bukas titingalain ninyo ako bilang matagumpay. At bukas akong aani ng respeto at parangal tangan ang aking mga pangarap.

"Ganyan sumibol ang adhikain ng isa sa pinakamahusay na coach sa pambansang liga ng PBA. Simpleng pangarap, pinuhunan ng sipag at tiyaga, determinasyon at pananalig sa Diyos at paniniwalang balang araw makakamit ko ang mga tala.

"Iyan si coach Siot Tanquingcen, imahe ng isang matagumpay at patuloy na nagtatagumpay sa likod ng mga pagsubok at hamon na kinakaharap."

From Augustus Franco Janiel — "I am not a fan of basketball. Perhaps, I have spent most of my time doing less strenuous extra-curricular activities in our school. I spend most of my time studying and doing homework — basketball is alien to me.

"During the press conference of coach Siot Tanquingcen, he gave the delegates a picture behind the glory of basketball. Little by little, he drew in the delegates’ minds the different values in basketball such as passion, strength, courage and moreover, sportsmanship. He truly moved the people in the room.

"I once again would like to share that through the lessons imparted by Mr. Siot, even a nerd like me may love basketball. There’s more to basketball than just dribbling and shooting. It’s all about a passion driven by inspiration."