Cesafi: Make way for the USJ-R Jaguars

By: Immae Lachica - 7 months ago

From left, CDN SportsTalk host Immae Lachica with USJ-R’s coach Melo Banua, Elmer Echavez, and Justine Jules Langres. | CDN Digital photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines— The University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) men’s basketball team is buzzing with excitement with the addition of new head coach Melo Banua.

Banua, who is from Zamboanga City, took over the coaching chores just this year. He is the former head coach for the high school basketball team of San Sebastian College-Recoletos in Manila.

In an interview with CDN SportsTalk, Banua says he is excited with the task of being the new head coach of the USJ-R.

Watch the episode here:

“Nakita nako nga mas dako ang opportunity nga mag coach sa college, symepre pangarap sad nako maka pag coach sa college,” he said.

(I see there is a greater opportunity coaching a college team and it has also been a dream to be coaching a college team.)

As of this posting, USJ-R is on a roll, winning four in a row to take the lead in the standings so far.

Banua was joined by two of his players, Elmer Echavez and Jules Langres, during the CDN Sportstalk eposide.

Banua is confident with the team he has and believes USJ-R can make it far this Cesafi season.

“Tanan sila maka duwa in any position, agile man silang tanan. And then siguro ang kinahanglang lang i-improve ilahang decision-making nila and then ang mga distraction,” he said.

(All of them can play any position, they are all agile. And then maybe all that’s left to improve is their decision-making and also their distractions.)

Among the teams to beat this season, according to Banua, is the University of the Visayas (UV), University of Cebu (UC), and University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF).

But Langres, who used to play for the University of San Carlos (USC), says all teams are capable of beating them, which is why he thinks the Jaguars should always be prepared.

/bmjo