Published October 6, 2025 5:23pm
Updated October 6, 2025 5:23pm
NCAA Season 101. San Sebastian coach Rob Labagala. Photo: Thomas Villanueva
New San Sebastian College-Recoletos head coach Rob Labagala admitted that the Golden Stags are still experiencing growing pains as they try to establish their identity in NCAA Season 101.
But taking over the reins of the storied program is a challenge Labagala gladly embraced.
This comes after the Golden Stags dropped their season opener to the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 67–54, last Friday.
“It was challenging. I love the challenge, itong pag-takeover namin dito sa team. I really enjoy it,” Labagala said of his new role.
(It was challenging. I love the challenge, this takeover of our team. I really enjoy it.)
While he embraces the challenge, Labagala acknowledged that the team is still working through early struggles.
“Nag-enjoy ako nang nag-grow na ‘yung mga bata. This is part of our growth. Growing pains namin ito.”
(I enjoy seeing the players grow. This is part of our growth. These are our growing pains.)
He admits that even he is growing alongside his players, as this marks his first stint as an NCAA head coach.
“Part ‘yun ng growth namin dahil ako, this is the first time na nag-handle ako ng NCAA, though familiar naman tayo sa college basketball,” he said.
(This is part of our growth cecause this is my first time to handle a team in the NCAA, though we’re familiar with college basketball.)
“The stage kasi na meron ang team namin, like on the early part namin, we are on the stage na fini-figure out namin, ina-assess namin kung sino ‘yung team. Tapos kalaunan, natuturuan na namin sila paano maglaro.”
(The stage that our team is at, like on the early part, we were on the stage that we’re figuring out, we’re assessing who the team is. Then we started to teach them how to play.)
“Right now, we’re figuring out how to win. We’re trying to figure out how to win. Kung paano ‘yung blend ng tao namin, kung paano namin we play against the crowd. Kung paano nagiging mga mistakes namin, we’re able to correct. ‘Yun ‘yung fini-figure out namin unti-unti.”
(Right now, we’re figuring out how to win. We’re trying to figure out how to win. How we can blend our personnel, how to play against the crowd. What our mistakes are, we’re able to correct. That’s what we’re figuring out little by little.)
For now, Labagala said his players must approach every game with a do-or-die mentality, especially as they face more experienced, better-gelled teams.
“We expect na talagang lahat ng teams dito sa NCAA, halos parang hindi mo masabi na mahihina,” he said.
“The main advantage the other teams have is the experience na matagal na silang magkakasama. That’s why I told the boys na we treat every game para sa amin, parang championship talaga.”
(We expect all of the team in the NCAA, you can’t say that they’re weak… the main advantage the other teams have is the experience, they been together for longer. That’s why I told the boys that we treat every game like it’s the championship for us.)
Well, like the tagline of his former pro team goes: Never Say Die.
San Sebastian will face Arellano University on Tuesday.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
