Preparing for the future: Joe Lipa speaks – An Inboundpass.com exclusive

As I entered the UP College of Human Kinetics Gym for an interview with UP Head Coach Joe Lipa, I can’t help but notice his usual demeanor on the court. In spite of the blowout losses, Lipa continues to howl instructions to the players, correcting their mistakes, commending good plays. Basically, he was doing what he does best: coaching.

After practice, we sat outside the gym to talk about recent developments in UP basketball. I finished my first question about UP’s current record of 0-13 when he immediately answered, as if ready to take the blame, “Yes we are losing, and losing bad. But this doesn’t mean that we are not preparing for the years to come. You see, we formed a team that should be competitive in the years to come, and by 2011 hopefully this team is still intact to go all the way. But right now, this team is simply young”. He adds “we are two to three recruits away from being a very strong team”.

When asked what his plans were at the start of the season, Lipa said “I wanted the boys to be all-around players. Everybody should be able to bring the ball down; everybody should be able to shoot from the perimeter. Everybody should be able to play 2-3 positions. I wanted everybody, including the big men to run. I could have easily said only Migs (de Asis) and Martin (Reyes) are allowed to shoot, but I wanted everybody to expand their game”.

For this UAAP season, time was not in UP’s favor. “As June and the UAAP season drew closer, our practices were slowed down by injuries and other factors. Mike Gamboa was injured, and we were waiting for Agbayani to get adjusted, him coming from an ACL injury. Soc Rivera and Julius Wong came in late. Mike was designated to be our starting point guard but had limited practice. Then Magi Sison got injured early in the season. With Magi’s injury, we were forced to make adjustments, and it really affected our game plan”.

Lipa adds “I take full responsibility to what happened this season. I was the one who got these good players. And I offer no excuses to those outraged by this”.

Taking the cue, I asked about reports on his resignation and on those maligning him. The coach said “I was thinking of resigning. But when I consulted my staff, they said that I should stay put and let the UP authorities decide on what to do. As for me, if given the chance to continue, I will help build a strong team for the future”. And as for those maligning him, all he has to say is “It’s really hard to defend a losing record, and a 0-13 record at that. But I hope they see the bigger picture”.

I offered one argument suggested by some quarters, that his basketball knowledge and philosophy are outdated; he said “that is precisely why I want my players to be all-around players. Look at the international game, even big men bring the ball down and shoot the 3. Just look at Greece and Argentina. I’ve been espousing this philosophy for a long time now. My former players know this”.

Asked for some parting words, Lipa states “I am doing this with only UP in mind. I want to help build a foundation for the future. As for resigning, that is out of the picture. And I would like to thank all those who supported the team through thick and thin”.

Well, it seems that Coach Joe Lipa is indeed preparing for whatever lies ahead. After the interview, he told me that he’s ready for whatever happens to him after Saturday. Speaking in low voiced, philosophical manner, he turned to me and said “Ganyan talaga ang buhay, Kim” as he took a puff from his cigarette.

I just hope the UP community knows what they’re doing.