(2nd of nine parts)
Bobby Knight, the Ohio native and Holy Cross U alum, was known for his innovative motion offense at that time, and his multi-stacked trapping defense that produced his second US NCAA Division title in 1981, which was incidentally led by two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, Isaiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons.
The same principles that laid the foundation of the 1984 USAB Olympic team which had a young Michael Jordan, Pat Ewing, Chris Mullin, and Sam Perkins, which turned out to be the last all-collegiate and amateur USAB squad to win the gold medal at the Los Angeles game.
For seven glorious days that summer of ’83, Coach Joe Lipe (CJL) learned, absorbed, and engaged as much as he could from Bobby Knight.
He was so inquisitive during the proceedings, which were attended by at least 250 coaches from around the world, with a chunk of non-English speaking mentors, CJL stood out due to his great facility of the king’s language which impressed the outspoken IU coach also known as the General.
Coach Knight developed a fondness for CJL that after two days into the camp, he gave him the keys to the Hoosier’s film archive. And after spending hours and hours reviewing the tape, Coach Knight would quiz and drill him about the things he learned from the experience.
Talk about iron, sharpening iron.
This made me understand from his engagement with those who mentored him, plus his own creativity was how CJL derived his genius from.
That among his wards and peers would declare in unison, that he was born way ahead of his time.
PABL UNDERDOGS
CJL rose to national consciousness and prominence among purists and casuals alike in the light of the much-publicized and improbable Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) Invitational Cup win over practically the RP Men’s
Basketball Team (RPNMBT) B squad under SMC’s Lagerlite Beer.
The star-studded powerhouse was bannered by no less than the Triggerman, Alan Caidic, where he was complemented by fine pieces like lethal Ludovico Valenciano, heady Franz Pumaren, scoring guard Pido Jarencio, and an on-the-rise Jerry Codinera.
Plus, the best and ‘tweeners including Romy Lopez, Jeffrey Graves, and Alvin Teng in the amateur ranks at that time, formed a super team of sorts that was deemed unbeatable at that time.
But out of nowhere CJL and his roster of overachievers pulled the proverbial rug under the highly touted Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco bankrolled squad.
As part of the national team farm system, the team was helmed by father and son, Ron Jacob proteges, consultant Filomeno Pumaren and head coach Frederick Pumaren, respectively.
This ESQ squad solidified CJL’s reputation as a tactician who develops the pieces he has and nurtures them into a unit that buys into his system which delivers the desired result.
Upended a star-studded Lagerlite side, considered Northern Consolidated Corporation (NCC) Team B at that time, had a twice-to-beat advantage going into the PABL Finals but was twice beaten convincingly in a pair of unforgettable matches.
CJL’s 1985 PABL Maharlika Cup champion team, has produced a handful of high-impact coaches who are still at it, propagating the game of basketball to higher levels. Coaches Glenn Capacio of National University (NU), Adonis Tierra, Joshua Villapando, and Ricky Cui at one time or another handled a squad of their own.
State U‘s remarkable pair of court generals who’ve become sports leaders as well, Eric Altamirano of the NBTC and Ronnie Magsanoc, SBP Program Director for the 3 x 3 Affairs.
Both champion coaches in the UAAP and the NCAA respectively, while Coach E, did it in the PBA at least twice. Other notables in the Buddy Encarnado-managed squad who went on to lead productive pro careers were, Cresencio “Dondon” Ampalayo, Harmon Codinera, Aurelio “Epoy” Jalmasco, and Richard Bachmann, who incidentally is the current Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman.
The legacy of a true teacher of the game creates a lasting ripple effect and expands even more, when his wards become coaches themselves who in turn, pass on the lessons they’ve learned from their mentor and pay it forward to the next generation.
(Sonny “Peter” Regalado Lopez, is currently a player development coach, marketing communications consultant and book author. He collaborated with coach Joe Lipa in publishing Basketball 101, a book that aims to coach the coaches and provide reference material for Physical Education teachers in the K to 12 curricula. The 53-year-old Lopez is a San Beda College, Manila, BSC Marketing Management graduate, and is currently working on publishing the memoirs of great coaches Joe Lipa, SJLC’s Larry Albano, and San Beda’s, late Edmundo ‘Ato’ Badolato, all in coffee table book format.)