The Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup will have its very own “Jawo” as the reigning Visayas champions KCS Computer Specialist has activated assistant coach Jabby Bautista to their active roster for the upcoming national finals later this month in Pagadian City.
This move essentially turns Bautista into a playing coach, much like the celebrated basketball legend Robert “Sonny” Jaworski who acted as playing coach for Ginebra from 1986 to 1998.
KCS arrived in Pagadian on Thursday morning and will be preparing to meet the champion of the Mindanao leg in a best-of-five series that will determine the very first national champion of the VisMin Super Cup.
For Bautista, the change in roles isn’t much as he kidded that he’s almost always on the floor during the game even if he’s an assistant coach.
“Nothing has changed because during the games, I’m almost at the middle of the floor already until the referees tell me to go back to the bench,” said Bautista with a laugh. “It still feels great to be part of the active roster.”
A crafty point guard who saw action for the University of San Carlos and Southwestern University in the CESAFI, Bautista explained that he got into the active roster since head coach Mike Reyes needed another player who could adapt to the system right away.
KCS currently has only 12 players on its roster following the loss of studs Gryann Mendoza, Al Francis Tamsi and Ping Exciminiano, who are all now playing in the PBA.
“My role pa din is as an assistant coach but if given the chance to play a few minutes, I will make sure it would be quality minutes,” said Bautista. (JNP)