IT is not common in Philippine basketball where you see coaches winning championships in multiple levels.
There’s the legendary Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan, who collected championships not just in the PBA, but also in the collegiate, commercial and amateur leagues.
Known as “The Maestro,” Dalupan was the winningest coach in PBA history for 24 years until Tim Cone surpassed his record of 15 titles collected, capped by a grand slam feat in 2014 as the American mentor became the only bench tactician to complete two triple crowns.
Prior to leading teams like Crispa, Great Taste and Purefoods to championships in the PBA, Dalupan weaved his winning magic in the collegiate circuit where he helped the University of the East Warriors in the UAAP and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, back when the Katipunan-based dribblers were still competing in the NCAA, to multiple crowns.
But it was with Crispa where Dalupan has been closely associated and his partnership with Danny Floro, the amiable team manager/owner of the Redmanizers, formed probably one of the most successful tandems by a local ball club.
Together, they won championships in various leagues – from the old MICAA, the National Open and other invitational tournaments.
Similarly, Joel Banal also had a similar path.
A former PBA player where he won championships playing for Great Taste, Banal would bring similar success in the coaching circuit, winning championships as coach in the NCAA (Mapua) and Ateneo (UAAP).
In the commercial league, Banal piloted teams like Casino Rubbing Alcohol and Ateneo-Hapee to the PBL championships then his success spilled over all the way to the PBA where he rewarded TNT its first ever title in 2003.
Then, there’s Derick Pumaren.
Coming from a family with rich basketball tradition, Derick is one among the four who had been involved in the sport they grew up with.
His dad, Filomeno, was a former coach who piloted UE to numerous championships. Mang Pilo, as often called by many in the cage circuit, also coached Gilbey’s Gin in the PBA and used to serve as a deputy mentor of then-Northern Consolidated coach Ron Jacobs and Norman Black at San Miguel.
It’s not surprising his sons, Derick, Franz and Dindo, also followed the old man’s footsteps and also got involved in basketball as player and coach.
Of the three sons of Mang Pilo, Derick became probably the most successful when it comes to coaching.
Similar to Dalupan and Banal, Derick has won championships in different levels.
As a collegiate coach, he guided La Salle to back-to-back championships in the UAAP in 1989 and 1990.
In the PABL, he won championships for Magnolia and Triple V and his success spilled over in the PBA where he piloted Sunkist to two championships in 1995.
When he returned to the collegiate scene, he led Centro Escolar University to a championship, then backstopped La Salle to a D-League championship in winning the Aspirant’s Cup.
His latest feat recently was equally commendable and this time, he was able to achieve it in the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League while leading Rizal-Akari to the championship.
“After more than 40 years of coaching men’s basketball, winning a championship in women’s basketball is very special to me,” wrote Pumaren via Messenger to The Manila Times.
“It proved that great coaching is not about coaching men or women, but it’s about building relationships, earning trust, developing players, and helping them believe in themselves. Losing the finals in my first season taught me valuable lessons,” he said.
“Winning the championship this season made it even more rewarding because it showed that our team learned, improved, and persevered together. This title is not just another championship. It’s a reminder that a coach must continue to adapt, learn and inspire, regardless of who is on the court.”
In winning his latest championship, Pumaren thanked Chris and Cara Tiu, father and daughter who owned the franchise.
