Bembem Alcaraz to replace Gilbert Demape as bench tactician for Wildcats
There’s a new sheriff in town for the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats after Bembem Alcaraz was named head coach in time for the upcoming collegiate basketball wars in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi).
With new season opening on Aug. 1, Alcaraz takes over the mantle vacated by former head coach and PBA great Gilbert Demape, who is set to fly to the United States.
Though the task is a daunting one, Alcaraz boasts of the coaching chops to get the job done after previous stints with the school’s grassroots basketball program as well as an assistant coaching gig with the Letran Knights under Louie Alas from 2003 to 2006.
“Ang ako ra jud giingon sa ilaha na mag-tinabangay mi,” Alcaraz said in an exclusive talk with Cebu Daily News last June 25, Thursday. (I just told them we have to help each other.) “Tabangan nako sila na mu-improve ilang duwa and tabangan sad ko nila through communication.” (I’ll help them improve their game and they’ll help me through communication.)
Alcaraz, the brother of former Letran standout JP Alcaraz, prides himself in being a “player’s coach,” thus giving the Wildcats a different approach from the one they had under the sometimes combustible Demape.
“Respetohay lang jud between me as a coach and sa ila as players. Ang ako hangyu nila is maminaw sila sa ako instructions and buhaton unsay dapat nila buhaton. Ako sad maminaw sad ko sa ilaha kung naa silay mga suggestions. Mubalik ra jud sa fact na dapat mi mag-tinabangay as a team,” shared Alcaraz. (There just has to be respect between me as a coach and them as players. What I’m asking for is for them to listen to my intructions and do what they have to do. For my part, I’ll listen to them if they have suggestions. It all boils down to the fact that we have to help each other as a team.)
For yet another season, the Wildcats will once again be fielding an all-Filipino squad, a choice that is preferred by Alcaraz.
“Mas ganahan jud ko anang kami-kami lang kay kung naay import man gud, ang mga locals magsalig na lang and dili na sad nuon maka-develop sa ilahang own games,” added Alcaraz. (I like it more that it’s just us because if there’s an import, the locals will just depend on him so they can’t develop their own games.)
With the glaring lack of a pivotman to man the shaded lane, the Wildcats are expected to once again lean on their small-ball approach, which utilizes versatile forward Allan Dimco as the man in the middle.