Subang: More than just a coach

To many who woke up on that Saturday morning to graphic images pervading their feeds on social media, Manolet Subang was just a name, a victim of an 11-vehicle pile-up in Mandaue City.

However, to Cebu’s close-knit basketball community, Subang was more than just that.

Cebu’s promising young players attested to that as they spoke of the late 28-year-old who is known by his nickname “Badz,” with reverence and respect.

Paul Desiderio, a former MVP of the Cebu Schools Athletic Schools Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) juniors division, a former member of the Batang Gilas and now a burgeoning star with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, spoke of how Subang always looked after him during his time coaching with the University of the Visayas’ grassroots basketball program from 2010 to 2012.

“Sa una, UV pa ko, mag sige to siya English nako kay kung makaduwa daw ko sa international league, kailangan ma-practice nako akoang English daw,” said Desiderio, who is currently in Taiwan playing with the Maroons in an international basketball competition. “Mag-sige to text nako. Mangumusta nako ug sige remind ang ulo dili daw mudako. Kahinumdom pako sauna siya gyud mulaban para namo. Bahala ikaw makasab-an. Malabayan naka bangko kay imo mi gipa-inom tubig,” added Desiderio.

READ: 11-vehicle pileup kills pastor, injures 7 others

Subang merged his passion for the game with evangelism, and worked with players of all ages in his capacity as pastor with the Athletes for Christ in Excellent Service, a ministry with the Living Word Christian Churches of Cebu.

Aside from coaching UV, he also had a stint with the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.

Before his death, he was actually on his way to coach in the Private School Development League (PSDL).

Reeve Ugsang, another UV product who is now suiting up for the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, remains in shock at his former coach’s passing. He narrated that it was in 2010 that he first met Subang while playing for UV’s Passerelle squad.

“Ma-picture out gyud nako si Badz physically, kung opaw siya mura siyag small version ni ‘The Rock’ Dwayne Johnson. Kay dako man kaayu siyag lawas gud mura sad sad siyag itik kay dako kaayug lobot. Mao mana ako sunggog niya sauna,” shared Ugsang with a hearty laugh.

Ugsang also reminisced about how Subang taught him the virtue of patience, both in his basketball career and in his personal life.

“Naa gyud to usa ka pangutana nako niya na dili ko makalimot. Kadtong gipangutana nako siya ngano man nga usahay atong prayer dili man tubagon og usahay pud dugay pa kaayu tubagon. Mao to iya ko gi-explainan unya taga explain niya maghatag gyud siyag verse from the Bible until atong ni abot mi sa verse na nag-explain sa significance sa patience,” fondly recalled Ugsang.

Peter Romanillos, a former correspondent of Cebu Daily News, also had his own story to share about the late pastor. Subang also worked with the basketball team of the University of the Philippines Cebu for a few months.

“He coached us without asking for anything in return. He was the man!” said Romanillos. -Jonas Panerio / Cebu Daily News