From subsisting on packs of pancit canton to working with some of the best players in the country, Cebuano Ryan Betia (far right, beside Roger Pogoy) has definitely earned his keep.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
AS THE latest version of the Philippine men’s national basketball squad, nicknamed the Gilas, takes the court in Taiwan for the Jones Cup, much of Cebu’s attention will probably be on the former Cesafi products – Roger Pogoy and Raymar Jose – who have earned the right to play for flag and country.
However, there is one more Cebuano who has worked equally as hard to be on the squad, albeit on the sidelines, supporting head coach Chot Reyes. He is assistant coach Ryan Betia.
A resident of Imus who has made coaching his life and career, Betia admitted to Cebu Daily News that he never imagined making it this far, especially after a rocky start to his career – where at one point he was coaching three different squads all throughout the day and subsisted on packs of pancit canton.
“I didn’t have a salary back then. I earned P50 doing stats for alumni leagues but that was it. I started getting salary in my second year for the University of San Carlos,” shared Betia of his experience.
“I’d finish with all my coaching duties at 11 at night but I didn’t earn any money nor did I demand any since I accepted that as part of my learning experience as a coach. I would just stop by at the back of Cebu Doctor’s Hospital and eat pancit canton before going home.”
Betia soon learned the ropes under the tutelage of current Southwestern University head coach Mike Reyes. But as fate would have it, his contract at USC did not get renewed, leaving him to scramble for another gig.
“I went to Manila after that and attended the practices of the University of the East, Ateneo, Talk N Text and Far Eastern University. Then Bert Flores (a fellow Cebuano) and Mark Molina gave me an opportunity, and later on, Coach Nash Racela and Josh Reyes also took me under their wing,” related Betia.
That road eventually led him to a gig with the Gilas Pilipinas, a chance that Betia cherishes to no end.
“I never imagined that I would make it to this point but it was always one of my goals to work with the best coaches and learn from them,” he said.
“And I just feel so blessed because the hard work that I put in got recognized. Words cannot describe what it feels like to work with and learn from coaches like Coach Nash and Coach Josh.”