BalotSports.info

Tagalog-speaking American Alex Compton will sit on the Coca-Cola bench as one of head coach Bo Perasol’s assistants.

Coke team manager JB Baylon and Perasol said Compton would work well as a “bridge” between the Filipino-Americans and locals on the team.

“His ability to talk to assistant coach Will Antonio and [rookie] Chris Ross in English would be of great value to the team,” Baylon told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday.

Perasol said the former Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) star would be of great help in explaining to the Filipino-Americans the Xs and Os of their system.

“Ang maganda kasi kay Alex, he speaks in English and Tagalog and with his ability, mas mapapadali ang communication sa team,” said Perasol.

The Tigers are running ninth overall with a 3-12 win-loss record, just half-a-game ahead of Barako Bull (2-12). The last-placed team after the double-round elimination in the Philippine Cup of the 35th Philippine Basketball Association season will be eliminated.

But more than Compton’s ability to communicate to all members of the team, Baylon said his basketball knowledge is another main reason management took him in.

Compton was given a two-year contract by Coke management. He was an assistant to Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia but decided to take a leave of absence to focus on the National Basketball Training Center of Eric Altamirano.

Perasol said Compton’s track record as a coach, player and person would give the team the extra mile.

“Alex is a teacher of the sport by heart, which I am also,” said Perasol, who is coaching the team on interim basis following the promotion of Kenneth Duremdes as alternate governor to the league board.

“He’s also a positive man in a sense that he likes to share his knowledge to other people and with Coke, we expect him to squeeze out the best from each of our players,” he added.

Compton will debut with the Tigers on January 13 when they collide with powerhouse San Miguel Beer.

Source: Joel Orellana  | BusinessMirror.com.ph