NO REGRETS VEERING OFF CAREER PATH
For Alaska coach Alex Compton, it’s surreal to be in the middle of the principal table during the Pre-Finals press conference of the PBA Philippine Cup.
He still can’t believe he’s in the business of coaching.
“All of my playing career, I had no plans at all of going into coaching,” said the former US NCAA Division I stalwart.
Compton got into coaching in 2006 and, nine years later, he’s a head coach in the Philippine Basketball Association, with a shot at the league’s most precious championship – the Philippine Cup.
Curiously, he’s up against the coach he’d worked with in his first two years of coaching.
Leo Austria was the head coach while Compton was the first assistant in Welcoat Paints’ (now Rain or Shine) first two seasons in the PBA in 2006 and 2007.
“Mixed feelings. I love coach Leo, sobrang bait na tao niyan. But at the same time, I love to beat him in this playoff,” said Compton.
He painted his team as the underdog, including himself against Austria in their battle of wits.
“Ang haba na ng coaching experience ni coach Leo. Ako halos zero pa,” he said.
Austria has been coaching for 16 years winning a couple of championships in the Philippine Basketball League and in the ASEAN Basketball League.
Compton, meanwhile, had also served as assistant at Powerade and Alaska before getting a big break, tapped in to take over from Luigi Trillo as Alaska bench chieftain in the last Governors’ Cup.
Taking over the reins just after two games in the tourney, Compton and the Aces had a good ride that ended in a loss to Rain or Shine in the Governors’ Cup semifinals.
But Compton had his revenge versus the Elasto Painters in the Philippine Cup Final Four, a feat that led to his coaching showdown with Austria.
“I had no knowledge about coaching – zero – when the Welcoat management brought me in. When I was still playing, I had no plans at all of going into coaching. Coach Leo was so kind to have me under his wings,” said Compton, mentioning his debt of gratitude to the SMB coach.
“Wala ako dapat dito kung hindi dahil doon,” added Compton, still actively playing when he got the Welcoat job.
“Actually, there was a US agent trying to call me for a playing job in Finland. It so happened hindi nya ako na-contact,” Compton recalled.
But Compton has no regrets.
If ever, Compton will score a major breakthrough only in his second conference as PBA head coach. (SB)
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