After more than a decade, Dave Marcelo will be reuniting with his college coach, Frankie Lim, when NLEX sees action in the Commissioner’s Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Marcelo said he doesn’t want to pass up the opportunity of playing for Lim, who served as his mentor for San Beda College in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“I never thought it would happen again,” Marcelo told Daily Tribune in an interview.
“But I’m glad to reunite with him. I’m comfortable with his system. It won’t be difficult for me to adjust.”
Lim is largely credited for San Beda’s success as he led it to four NCAA titles during his stint as head coach from 2007 to 2011.
Four years later, he joined Barangay Ginebra San Miguel but lasted only a year before returning to the NCAA to handle University of Perpetual Help System Dalta until the pandemic in 2020.
Lim said tapping Marcelo wasn’t part of the plan.
“It wasn’t even a plan,” Lim said.
“He was just included in a trade from TNT and then Rain or Shine released him, so the bosses told us to get him so he will stay with the group.”
Lim looks forward to this reunion, hoping that Marcelo will be able to make a contribution.
“I thought he was okay with TNT,” Lim added.
“We were not making movements, but we were fortunate to pick him up.”
The 6-foot-5 Marcelo will provide the added muscle, size and toughness on the team, especially since Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser is still recovering from a leg injury that deprived him of an opportunity to play in the 19th Asian Games.
