So just feel free to continue the saga until, hopefully, the end of the season. Here goes.....The Day Before June 11:
After the opening ceremonies at Araneta Coliseum, the entire Blue Eagle team is hauled off into the team coaster for a final pep talk at Moro Lorenzo prior to the all-important first game the following day:
Upon reaching Moro….
SANDY: Okay guys, huddle around now.
Whispers to Norman: I’ll speak first then I’ll call on you later. Norman nods.
The players then sit on the court around their coach.
SANDY: As all of you very well know, we face our first big test tomorrow. I know we have practiced extensively based on what we expect will be DLSU’s offensive and defensive patterns. However, it pays to review the finer points once again.
Macky?
MACKY: Yes Coach?
SANDY: You will guard Casio like deodorant sticks to armpit, you understand? The only three-point attempts that he will make are those that he will take during the warmup. Malinaw ba?
MACKY: Yes Coach. Walang problema.
SANDY: And please lang Macky, no useless fouls. Kung si Gatchalian ang nasa loob, decent defense lang. Give him some space sa three-point area kasi di naman titira yan dun eh. But once he tries to penetrate and create a situation, dikitan mo na. Don’t worry about TY. Pag pumasok si Tang, si LA na ang bahala.
MACKY: Okay Coach.
BADJIE: Whispers to Macky Pre, bunutan mo ng bigote si Tim para mapikon. Macky. Ford, and Doug share a good laugh.
MACKY: After a few seconds of silence.
Eh Coach, kung si Cholo ang nasa loob?
SANDY: Si Villanueva? As I said before, I’ll match either Magnum or Chris on him para katawanin siya. Pag medyo napagod na, I’ll assign either you or LA, or Yuri to guard him. Man-to-man D yan ha? Force the steal or the turnover. Malaki siya pero kakabahan din yan pag napagod na.
Yuri?
YURI: Coach?
SANDY: Depending on the situation, I may have to put you in the game tomorrow. Kaya ready ka lang okay?
YURI: Opo Coach. Thinks to himself – Anong situation kaya yun?
MAGNUM: To Yuri. Kaya magdala ka ng extra jacket. Malamig sa bench.
The players laugh aloud except Yuri who just smiles it off.
L.A.: Papahiram na lang daw ni Japeth yung jacket niya para may kumot ka na din.
More hearty laughs from the players.
NORMAN: Guys, guys silence please.
SANDY: Hoy tumigil na kayo. How many times do I have to tell everybody that as members of a team, each of us is expected to perform a specific role at specific times. Sometimes you get to play a lot of minutes, sometimes you don’t. But like what I’ve told you many times before, we will have a bigger rotation this year, meaning, more people get to see playing time every game.
JOBE: Alright! Pumps his fist in the air and exchanges low fives with Ken and Doug.
DOUG: To Jobe Yeah dude. Let’s get it on.
SANDY: Okay next. LA?
L.A. Present.
SANDY: Pare, you will dictate the tempo of the game. That’s how important you are to the team. Focus pare. Focus. Let’s limit our turnovers. Sayang yung mga lost opportunities.
L.A.: Yes Coach.
SANDY: I’d like to see quick ball movement and passes to cutters. We need to look unpredictable guys. But don’t force the ball inside kung wala namang clear opportunity for our big guys to score. L.A., if you’re open, take the shot.
NORMAN: If you’re in an open situation and you think you can make the shot, don’t hesitate. I’d rather you try and miss, than not try at all. Chris? Magnum? Is that clear?
CHRIS: Yes Coach.
MAGNUM: Yes Sir.
NORMAN: Guys, remember, we have to give the other teams a reason to be scared of each one of us. They should not be scared of only a few people in our team. We need to confuse them. And the only way for that to happen is if we nail our shots. And we can’t nail shots if we do not take them in the first place. Clarow?
MARTY: To JC. Kasama din kaya ako dun? Hindi ako sanay tumira eh.
JC: To Marty Oo naman. Basta nasa harap mo na ring, wala nang tanung tanong. Atake na. Huwag ka lang titira sa tres. Baka ilagay ka sa Team B.
LARRY: To Marty At next time, huwag ilong ko ang titirahin. Kundi guguluhin ko buhok mo.
SANDY: Anyway, LA, on defense, your main man is Tang. No need to tell you what you have to do since you own him anyway. Make him realize that joining the basketball team was a wrong decision.
L.A.: Yes Coach.
SANDY: You are also the second option on defense kay Cholo. Let him post you up kasi wala namang post up moves yun. I would expect him to kick out a pass every time. So guluhin mo na lang siya and force him to commit errors. Pare, ikaw ang premier point guard ng UAAP. Pakita mo sa mga tao kung bakit.
L.A.: Gagawin ko po yun Coach.
SANDY: By the way, try to avoid defensive switches where you will end up guarding Gaco. Ayoko na ulit na ma-suspend ka. Baka maiyak ulit ako sa speech mo eh.
L.A.: Yes Coach. Di na mauulit yun. Mahirap pala magsalita sa harap ng maraming tao.
MACKY: Okay lang maulit yun. Sinuswerte naman ako pag wala ka eh.
Everybody laughs except Norman
SANDY: Chris ikaw naman.
CHRIS: Yes Coach?
SANDY: You are a shooter correct?
CHRIS: Yes Coach.
SANDY: So shoot the ball. I appreciate your effort in moving the ball around and looking for a good scoring opportunity for your teammates. Pero pare, we desperately need your shooting to click. We need decoys and you are one of them.
FORD: To Japeth Ano daw yun? Tikoy? Si Chris nga yun.
LARRY: To Ford Ssshhhhhh….
SANDY: I expect this year to be your breakout year. Siyempre there will be pressure but you have to get used to it. Huwag mo lang masyado pansinin yung mga fans na nagsisigawan. Yung sigaw ko lang ang pakinggan mo ok?
CHRIS: Yes Coach.
BADJIE: To Chris Oo nga. Sayang yung addict na headband mo kung puro pasa lang gagawin mo.
Chris smiles sheepishly.
SANDY: On defense, you are my main option kay Cholo. Sabayan mo lang and be a little physical. I might also have to use you against Gatchalian. Although mabilis si Tim, he does not use it to his advantage anyway so I’m sure you can handle him.
CHRIS: Yes Coach.
SANDY: Magnum?
MAGNUM: Coach?
SANDY: You are also one of our decoys so I need you to shoot really well. Though I have to admit, tumataas na ulit ang shooting percentage mo. I don’t see DLSU assigning somebody to guard you tightly so I’m sure you will have several good looks at the basket. So take advantage.
And please don’t force it inside. Your role is to take the jumper, defend well, and finish the fastbreak. I don’t like to see any daredevil moves against a barrage of defenders of the opposing team.
MAGNUM: Opo Coach. Ginagaya ko lang naman si Badjie eh.
BADJIE: Teka. Bakit nasama ako dyan?
MACKY: To Badjie Hehe Totoo naman eh. Inspiration ka ni Magnum.
BADJIE: Sira-ulo talaga tong mga to o.
SANDY: Magnum, you will defend against Arana and Villanueva. Arana, if he does play, will not be healthy because of his injury. So kayang-kaya mo sabayan at tutukan yan. With our frontline this year plus his injury, I cannot see him doing low post moves anymore unlike last year. So sa labas lang ang laro niya. I assume you can control him from there. Same with Cholo.
MAGNUM: Kayang-kaya Coach.
BUGS: Ayos ah. Confident. Iba na talaga ang naka-graduate. Wala nang load hehe.
Magnum laughs with Bugs and some of the other players
SANDY: Okay. Badjie?
BADJIE: Po?
SANDY: Two things on the offensive side. First, until you can show me during practice that you can hit the three consistently, I don’t want to see you make a three-point attempt unless it is absolutely necessary or we are ahead by 20 points.
Muffled laughter from the players.
Secondly, no careless gung-ho drives to the basket. I’m not telling you to avoid going for the drive. What I’m saying is that you choose your shots. Remember that a strong drive is a great way to set up a drop pass to any of our big men or a kick out pass to our shooters. Always keep that in mind.
BADJIE: Yes Coach. Understood.
SANDY: On defense, you are our best option to stop Yeo. Tomorrow, he is your best friend, your girlfriend, your wife. You will not leave him. You will not give him a free lane to the basket. Well, actually you can, especially if Bugs and Japeth will be the last line of defense.
I want your hand on his face whenever he takes a jumper or a three-point shot. Pare, physical but not dirty. And use your fouls wisely.
BADJIE: Ok Coach. Loud and clear.
JC: To Badjie Hayaan mo. Kung makalampas man sayo, kami na bahala sa loob.
JC pats Badjie’s shoulder and winks at Japeth and Jobe.
SANDY: Moving on…Ken?
KEN: Yes Coach?
SANDY: As a rookie, I expect you to make some mistakes. But as a former MVP from the high school, I expect those mistakes to come few and far between. Again, that is not my hope – that is my expectation.
Ken nods his head
Offensively, you need to do what you do best – creating situations for you to score. Slash, slash, and slash. Try to fish as many fouls as possible. I would like to think that you can use your speed to your advantage against anybody that Franz will throw at you. But no forced shots okay?
KEN: Yes Coach.
SANDY: As mentioned before, I would need you to at times to defend against Yeo and Cabatu. I just need you to keep in step with Yeo and to put a hand in his face whenever he takes a jumper. If he’s able to get past you, don’t foul. Let our last lines of defense stop him in the air.
I know Cabatu is more manageable. Though his wider, he’s slower so you can keep up with him. He’s more dangerous outside so don’t give him open looks at the basket.
TO BE CONTINUED....BY ME OR ANYBODY ELSE IN THE FORUM....
And I am currently trying to think up a musical interlude for this thread. (Don't worry, everyone will be fully dressed.)
Akala ko "Behind the Scenes with the Eagles" ito? Anyway, whatever floats your boat... 
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because you are all wonderful people) -- how would I know that? I'm not the one who tucks You-Know-Who in at night with a glass of warm milk and his favorite teddy bear.