MANILA – What basketball diaries await Ilonggo guard Emman Monfort after he agreed to be one of the NLEX Road Warriors’ assistant coaches?
The Iloilo City-native is grateful to the Road Warriors management for giving him the opportunity to be under the tutelage of head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao.
Monfort told Spin.ph: “I’m grateful to the management and to coach Yeng (Guiao), of course, for giving me the opportunity. Isipin mo nakalaro na ako under coach Yeng, and now I am learning from one of the best coaches in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Blessing talaga ‘yun for me.”
“Last year, may idea na ang NLEX na ilagay ako sa staff,” he added. “Nasa reserve lang ako last year. Tapos in the second conference, nakabalik ako sa lineup. Nung third conference naman ay binalik ako sa reserve.”
“When they offered it (coaching) to me, hindi na ako nagkaroon ng second thoughts,” the former Ateneo de Iloilo guard further said. “Mas ok nga na kilala ko (ang players ng NLEX) on and off of the court. ‘Yung iba, coach ang tawag sa akin, ‘yung iba naman ay kuya, at ‘yung iba Emman pa rin.”
Monfort, who had stints with Barako Bull Energy, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters, said he does not consider himself a retired player as he is still open to return to the NLEX roster anytime.
“I think I am still super blessed to be part of a great organization and team. This time, obviously, I can only help by coaching and not playing,” said Monfort.
He added: “I think it will still be a blessing for me whether to play or to coach for NLEX.”
NLEX executive Ronald Dulatre, for his part, said the 5-foot-6 guard Monfort now acts as the team’s skills coach and head of the team’s various coaching clinics.
According to Dularte, Monfort and another former Road Warrior, Borgie Hermida, could be the tacticians of NLEX in the inaugural upcoming PBA 3×3 competition.
“He tries to remain in basketball but on a different capacity. I think bagay sa kanya ang coaching because Emman has good basketball IQ,” said Dulatre. “Graduate din naman siya. If ever, he can also work as part of the NLEX corporate.”/PN
