One of the most important traits of a good leader is how one can adapt to any situation or scenario given to him or her. In sports, coaches have to deal with this all the time at practice, games and off the court with their teams. Their talent or skill to deal with such changes make them better coaches and leaders. And now that COVID 19 has thrown the most wicked curve ball that they’ve ever faced, they have had to make serious changes to the game plan of their lives. With sports taking a long time out, many coaches have been stranded and without jobs. No work means no pay. It’s as simple as that. But how have Cebu’s coaches adapted to the times? With Facebook as our field, we noticed that some coaches have now made the switch from coaching to becoming businessmen in the field of retailing, selling a variety of goods with the main goal of finding a substitute to the lost earnings from this long time out. Since making substitutions in games is a common thing for them, I guess it was only natural that they carried out their own “sub” for this game called COVID.
Ronald Bucao, head coach of the University of the Visayas’s SBP and Passerelle teams and assistant coach of the high school team, has swapped his clipboard play diagrams with orders of home-made chorizo and eggs. He calls this a perfect match for breakfast and I completely agree. Bucao was known for his speed and daredevil ways during his playing years, and here is now assuring speed of delivery of his goods with a customary photo op for Facebook.
Jed Cabellon, whose coaching stint with Mactan Shangri-La, Accenture, Executive Boutique and Alin Customs has been put on hold in this dry spell, sells and delivers home-made chorizo and eggs too. And aside from that he also carries on his sales kit a number of essentials such as face masks, alcohol, dishwashing liquid, hand soap, fabcon, disinfectant, detergent powder and cooking oil. “Since wala patay panalay or income from basketball, why not go into online selling, dili na pwedi ang mag uwaw-uwaw kay wala natay ipa kaon sa family sir...maona dili lang ta mu give up,” the practical Cabellon said in a private message.
Jamel Macasamat, an assistant coach for volleyball at SHS-Ateneo de Cebu sells VFI products and is also into on call delivery. His primary market are the parents of the volleyball team, advising them that instead of buying his products at the supermarket, they can get these from him and have these delivered at to their front door. He is also on call for delivery services. With this motorcycle, he can easily deliver goods of people who are also into online selling.
Jax Bautista of PAREF Springdale has long been into the retailing business on top of coaching, with stalls in malls selling a mix of items, but that, too has taken a blow. His substitute? He now sells Lifetime portable basketball goals. This is perfect for those who would like to get some shooting drills done at home (alone, I must add; no games please). He also sells essentials online. These include face masks, face shields, and goggles. His most recent posts? Desktop computers and divider/shields for motorcycle owners who plan to have a second passenger.
Chelito Caro, a.k.a. Coach Carz, is one of my favorite well-traveled coaches who makes National University his main office and the Vismin his part-time office as a panalay coach for ARQ and KSB Glass in between. In the new normal, he now sells sports uniforms, sportswear, office uniforms, athletic equipment, chorizo and bicycles.
Noel Gepiga is a teacher and coach at UV Mandaue. With basketball out of the way, he sells the following goodies online: budbud, moron, bibingka, bananas, camote, puto kutsinta, chicharon bulaklak, shorts, jerseys, tubes and face masks. He has a stable market in the Mandaue area.
And the last but surely not least of all is Jp Maunes, founder of Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. (PADS). His now famous burgers at Dubby’s Ultimate Burgers has been selling out on a daily basis, making him one of the most successful “accidental” online sellers in this pandemic. What started out as baon for his frontliner wife has now turned into a full-time burger phenomenon, selling over 300 burgers a day.
Change. Switch. Substitute. It’s a strategy used by all coaches at actual games and practices with the goal of making the team better at a specific time or situation. By adjusting to the situation on hand, the team is better equipped to face it. Many coaches have made that adjustment to their lives today and they’ll come out winners when the buzzer sounds at the end of the game.