Palaro win evokes Scottie memories for davao coach

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Davao Region head coach Jess Linus Evangelio admitted that memories came flowing after seeing his squad clinch the secondary boys basketball title in the 65th Palarong Pambansa Friday at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena.

Evangelio, who calls the shots for Ateneo de Davao University’s high school basketball team, was part of Davao’s 2010 Palaro squad that included current Barangay Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson.

“It’s all nostalgic here in the Palaro. I was a player in my first Palaro and now in my second time here, I helped the team win a championship,” Evangelio said.

“I played in 2010 in Tarlac. Scottie was the only famous player on our team.”

The 2010 Davao Region crew was knocked out in the quarterfinal of the premier grassroots tournaments organized by the Department of Education and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Since that tournament, Thompson and Evangelio have taken different paths.

Thompson became a star with University of Perpetual Help System Dalta from 2011 to 2015 before being drafted by Ginebra in the Philippine Basketball Association and became one of country’s biggest superstars.

Meanwhile, the 32-year-Evangelio opted to hone his coaching skills until he was appointed as Ateneo de Davao head coach in 2016 a year after his graduation.

Little did Evangelio know he would lead Davao to glory in this year’s Palaro.

The Eagles defeated Western Visayas, 67-51, in the final as they won their first-ever Palaro mint.

“We had to remind our players that defense wins championships. Since our first game here, we had to rely on one another,” Evangelio said.

Evangelio vows to keep the core intact as they gun for back-to-back titles for next year’s Palaro.

“We would remind our players to stay humble. We will celebrate this win but we want them to stay humble when we go back in the court to train,” Evangelio said.