A lot of coaches definitely inspired Yuri Escueta to win the Season 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball title on a fateful Sunday afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But when asked to identify the particular mentor who inspired him the most, the 38-year-old Escueta blurted out the name of a person who is no longer around to witness his success — Ato Badolato.
Shortly after sealing their 76-66 victory over Mapua University in Game 3 of their best-of-three finals series, Escueta stressed that he offers their title to his late mentor, who molded him into the kind of coach and the kind of person he is right now.
Badolato, who succumbed to heart attack exactly two years ago today, was a giant in grassroots basketball.
With Badolato barking instructions at the sidelines, the Red Cubs won 16 NCAA juniors titles and produced countless stars like Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, Eric Altamirano, Dindo Pumaren, Gerry Espalana, Jvee Casio, Baser Amer, and LA Tenorio.
Escueta was among the players honed by Badolato and as he was part of the squad that won the Season 79 title in 2003 before joining Norman Black at Ateneo de Manila University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
But the most important lessons that Escueta gained from Badolato had nothing to do with basketball.
“My head coach, Coach Ato, taught me early about the winning attitude and mentality. When I came to San Beda, I learned from him not only what San Beda basketball is all about, but the excellence of winning early in my career,” said Escueta, whose first title came two days before his late mentor celebrated his second death anniversary.
“He’s the one who taught me all about this and molded the players to be winners. I hope he is here to see this.”
Escueta admitted that Badolato reached out to him, asking if he can coach the Red Cubs. Then, the old Badolato reached out again, offering him to coach the Red Lions, whose performance in the country’s oldest collegiate league was starting to sputter.
The youthful Escueta politely turned down the offer as he was still tied up as assistant coach of Kiwi-American mentor Tab Baldwin at Ateneo.
But Escueta admitted that he was flattered, knowing that his former coach was trusting him to run the program that elevated him into the legendary status in Philippine basketball.
“In the past, he asked me to coach San Beda high school team but I said no,” he said.
“After two to three years, he asked me again, this time, for the San Beda basketball team. I told him that I wasn’t ready so I stayed at Ateneo.”
“This San Beda coaching job was offered to me six months after his death. I told myself that ‘I think I’m ready and that this was for him (Badolato).’ I like to offer this championship to him as a way of saying ‘thank you.’”
It turned out that Badolato’s instinct was right.
Against a solid — and very hungry — Mapua squad, Escueta made all the right calls that prompted Jacob Cortez, Yukien Andrada, Peter Alfaro and Finals Most Valuable Player James Payosing to respond mightily and clinch the title that has been eluding them since 2018.
Black said the hard work and open-mindedness of his former ward were the keys to his success.
“It’s a good feeling to win a championship. It was because of Yuri, I said yes. Yuri was my player in Ateneo and we always had a great relationship and anything I can do to help him out, I’m willing to do it,” Black said.
“Yuri’s very open-minded and he’s also hardworking and very prepared. It’s very easy to work with him and it’s not just myself but the combination of the coaching staff is another reason we were able to win this championship.”
Still, there was one person who must be very happy with Escueta’s coaching success.
And definitely, Badolato is smiling from up above.
