Robert Jaworski shared his sentiments on the firing of coach Fort Acuna during halftime of Toyota’s win over Crispa in Game 3 of the 1980 PBA All-Filipino championship series.
We’ve proven our point, says Big J
By Ding Marcelo
Bulletin Today
Published Saturday Dec. 13, 1980
“By winning over Crispa, we have proven our point.”
Thus, declared Robert Jaworski, the Toyota team captain who is in the center of the Philippine Basketball Association’s most intriguing and beguiling development since Crispa attempted and failed to complete a 20-game sweep of the All-Filipino Conference.
Jaworski was the reason that led to the firing of Toyota coach Fort Acuna which in turn was perhaps the motivating factor that fired up the Tamaraws to stop the Redmanizers’ winning streak at 19.
The 33-year-old superstar did not specifically saw that Acuna’s firing moved the team to play its best, “but we have proven our point.”
Jaworski said he could not understand why Acuna had suddenly decided not to use him when the players and the coach had forged an agreement to play their best for the third game.
“Naturally, I felt very bad,” Jaworski said. “He was reneging on an agreement. Only the night before, we had this agreement that if we ever lose, we must lose with dignity.”
Jaworski described Acuna as a young man who is trying his best who could hardly cope with the demands of the job.
“His system is wrong. He does not give the players a chance to belong. He could not say instructions that would not hurt a player. There are things which could be said in a nice way but having the same effect as if you were scolding a player,” Jaworski said.
Jaworski denied that he ever played below what was expected of him, a charge Acuna said was the reason why morale was very low in the Toyota camp.
“How can I play my best when he never gave me the opportunity?” Jaworski asked. “I will not speak for myself but for the other players who complain that they are taken out of the game right after an error or those who, after missing their first shot are also taken out.”
Jaworski also clarified that he was never after Acuna’s job.
“It’s not my ambition to coach the team,” he said. “It’s a beautiful job but it’s not my cup of team.”
Jaworski also took exception to Acuna’s statement that he was “immature and insecure.”
“Me, insecure and immature?,” he asked in apparent bewilderment. “He must be talking to a different person. He must be speaking for himself.”
“You know me, I’ve been in this game for so long to feel that way.”
He said it is not also true that he violated game instructions to the detriment of the team.
“The truth is that we have been following him that’s why we have been performing this way. I don’t interfere in any way as far as his coaching is concerned. The team gives the final instructions but you don’t expect us to follow the instructions to the letter because there are untoward circumstances that comes along the way,” Jaworski said.
The victory over Crispa was a big boost to the morale of the team, according to Jaworski and that they will play more inspiringly than before.
However, he did not agree to the idea that the firing of Acuna was a big relief for him or the team.
“Our biggest concern is to be united. I don’t feel it was a relief at all, but bow the team is working together as a team which is very important,” Jaworski said.
In the meantime, he added that team manager Pablo Carlos, Jr., who fired Acuna midway in last Thursday’s game, will be fielding in the players and for the technical aspect, he said it will be a team effort.
No comments:
Post a Comment