San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent is this year’s coach for Team Barroca at the PBA All-Star. –PBA IMAGES
BACOLOD CITY — Jorge Gallent coaching career in the PBA is starting to flourish.
After steering San Miguel to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship, the 55-year-old former pro will be coaching his first All-Star Game this Sunday at University of St. La Salle here.
“Just great blessings for me this start of the year. I just hope it continues like this,” he said on Thursday afternoon, during the midseason extravaganza’s kick-off presser.
READ: PBA: Mark Barroca, Japeth Aguilar spearhead All-Star game
“After winning a championship, and now doing all this? I’m very happy about it. I’d like to thank the fans for bringing me here,” he added.
Gallent will have his work cut out for himself, as he will be calling the shots for Team Barroca against Tim Japeth and the peerless Tim Cone.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial opens the All-Star Weekend presser here at Upper East MegaWorld Bacolod. | @sonrdINQ pic.twitter.com/BVP2QyrHAw
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 21, 2024
But he is not fazed. After all, he is living the dream.
“I was expecting this (chance after) a year or two. But it came early, so I’m super happy,” Gallent said. “As I’ve said, we will try to win the game and try to be competitive this Sunday.
The learning curve won’t be too significant for Gallent this Sunday as he already has experience coaching a talent-rich squad.
READ: PBA: Last year’s Ginebra sweep not on Jorge Gallent’s mind
But he also knows getting his feet wet will come with hurdles.
“This is different. Over at San Miguel, we have a culture as a family. We’ve been together for a long, long time. I fixed the chemistry in San Miguel. I tried to make them like brothers. Here in this All-Star, I’ll try to [do that] again, but there’s going to be one practice day. But I’ll try to do it and let them play as a unit.”
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At the heart of that goal is making the All-Star Game just as competitive as the last one held in Passi City, Iloilo, last year, where Team Japeth escaped Team Scottie by the skin of its teeth, 140-136.
“We want the fans to enjoy by being competitive. We just can’t make easy baskets and all of that. The fans spend tickets to watch not a blowout game but a competitive game. If it comes down to a winning basket, I’m sure they’re going to love it,” Gallent said.