Coach Edwin had been coaching the Sharks Basketball Team for 5 years now, 9 if you include his being an assistant coach to Coach Alden. After taking over from the previous coach whom he worked for as assistant for 4 years, he was able to turn around the University team from being one of the first-eliminated-teams to one-to-beat team.
Seeing how Coach Alden worked, he saw the biggest loophole to the team’s performance. The players don’t have the drive. Kulang sa passion. Kulang sa confidence.
And checking on these young athletes while taking their showers, Assistant Coach Edwin realized why there is no “mmmp!” in their athletic performance. Karamihan sa kanila maliliit ang titi. Paano ka nga naman mag-aangas kung wala kang ipagyayabang? Lalo’t nagkakakitaan kayo sa shower room kapag maliligo after practice. Paano ka aangas kong nakita ng lahat na wala ka namang ipagmamalaki.
So when Coach Alden left for abroad and assistant coach Edwin was promoted as head coach, he immediately tested his theory.
Hinati niya sa 2 teams at pinaglaro ang lahat ng players. Isang team na puro mga maliliit ang titi as in yung estimate niya ay below 5 inches kapag matigas. Marahil ay nataon lang pero karamihan sa mga main players and seniors ay kasama sa 1st team.
Kalaban nila ang 2nd team na made up of players who he assume as “packing”. Patay pa ang mga alaga ng mga ito pero alam mong malaki na ang dala. Kasama sa 2nd team si Randy who is just a freshman at that time and a few others na pawang mga freshmen or sophomore pa lamang pero lahat ay may ipagyayabang sa palakihan ng kargada.
Hindi alam ng dalawang team bakit sila ang pinagsama sama. Tanging si Coach Edwin ang nakakaalam na pinagsama sama sila base sa laki ng kanilang mga alaga. Ang tanging sinabi niya sa bawat team ay ang larong ito ang magiging batayan niya kung sino ang mga dapat i-maintain at tanggalin sa team. Complete overhaul.
After an hour of practice game, tinambakan ng 2nd team ang 1st team despite the latter having most of the senior members kasama ang dating team captain na si Dennis.
At tulad ng sinabi nya bago magpractice, tinanggal nya sa official members ng Sharks Basketball team ang mga players ng 1st team. Mula noon, tanging mga players lang na may mga malalaking titi ang nirerecurit ni Coach Edwin.
Sa una ay malaking issue para sa school board and admin ang ginawa ng bagong coach dahil very controversial nga naman na tanggalin ang mga senior and supposedly more experienced players. But Coach Edwin stood his ground. He can’t explain his theory to the board but he told them to give him a chance to prove his strategy for the next 6 months. Kapag hindi sila umangat sa current standing ng school sa mga tournament, he will return all his salary with interest!
And to the pleasant surprise of the whole school, nagbago nga ang performance ng Sharks Team. Coach Edwin’s strategy paid off. Mula sa kilalang pagiging kulelat, slowly but surely, umangat ang rankings ng Sharks Team hanggang sa ito na ang maging team to beat these past few seasons and consecutive champions pa.
At ngayong gumraduate na ang karamihan sa team members na kinabibilangan nila Randy, kelangan ulit mag-recruite ni Coach Edwin. As usual, isa sa nga batayan nya ang laki ng burat ng mga players.
Syempre pa, dahil napanood sa TV during last season’s championship game na marami sa players ng Sharks ay graduating, marami din ang nagbakasaling mag-apply kahit na ang mga players ng mga rival schools hoping to join the now-elite team of Sharks University.
At tulad ng napagkasunduan with the school board, tanging si Coach Edwin lang ang may last say kung sino ang kanyang ire-recruite.
Saturday afternoon. Medyo marami na rin ang nakapila sa Sharks Gynasium kung saan gaganapin ang initial interview and try out ng mga gustong magpa-recruite sa Sharks Basketball Team.
Nangunguna sa pila si Jameson. Star Player ng Tiger College, isa sa mga dating champion schools years ago bago bumango ang pangalan ng Sharks Team.
Sure na sana ang promotion ni Jameson bilang team captain ng Tiger Team pero dahil spoiled at ambisyoso, pinili niyang mag-try out sa team ng back to back champion. Alam nyang mas malaki ang chance na magkaron sya ng professional career if gagraduate siya from a champion school.
Para masiguradong makapasok, binitbit nya rin ang kanyang head cheerleader girlfriend na si Chrissy para makadagdag sa kanyang ika nga’y “value” as new recruit. Kapag kinuha si Alden bilang team captain, sabay na tatransfer si Chrissy na isang choreographer at member ng isa sa mga finalist sa cheerleading competition.
Higit sa lahat, todo support naman ang parents ni Jameson na sina Ms. Odette isang socialite at si Mr. Charlie, isang kilalang sports anchor sa malaking TV channel. Binayaran pa ng mga ito ang guard ng Gym para paunahin sa pila si Jameson.
Maririnig ang malakas na boses ni Jameson habang nakikipaghuntahan sa iba pang player na nakasunod sa kanya sa pila.
Jameson: “You might as well go home boys or pay respect because before the day ends, I’m sure I’m going to be the Shark’s new captain”. Sabay mwestra showing off his muscles and great physique.
Naglalakad pa lang si Coach Edwin sa gitna ng gym papaunta sa kanyang malaking office sa dulo kung saan magaganap ang initial interview pero hinarang na kaagad siya ni Mr. Charlie bago pa mabuksan ang pinto ng kanyang office.
Charlie: “Hi Coach Edwin. I think I do not need introduction. And you must know my son Jameson is a big catch. You will never loose with him in your steamed team. And with me in the anchor, we will be a team to beat!”
Coach Edwin: “We’ll see! I see your son is first in line. We’ll find out soon enough..”
Sinenyasan ni Coach Edwin si Jameson na sumunod sa kanya sa loob. Akmang papasok din sa loob kasunod ni Jameson ang kanyang girlfriend na si Chrissy at ang parents ni…