LEARNING NEVER STOPS: Ong, Libornio learn a lot on SBP's TCC

Two of the country's premier minds in women's basketball were all praises to the Tournament Coaches' Course by the Coaches' Academy of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and FIBA, noting that their passion and education for the game never stops even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic that halted all sporting activity in the country for more than four months.

UST's Haydee Ong and UE's Aileen Libornio spoke to Pinoyliga and has nothing but commendations to the SBP and FIBA for the program, in which several of their colleagues including Gilas Women head coach Patrick Aquino among the attendees.

"It taught me to be more specific and organize with my program," said the master tactician of the Tigresses who formerly hold Aquino's post from 2008-14, winning the SEABA title in 2010 and two silvers in the SEA Games. "As for me, I will disseminate and share the knowledge I’ve learned with the other coaches."

Ong, a former women's national team standout herself, added that it gave them more emphasis on the purpose of their jobs, as it reflected how their presence make a huge impact to the lives of their players.

"For me, leaders do not create followers but create more leaders," she added.

As both of them already veterans of the game, the TCC have enabled them to relearn and refresh their already established credentials.

"I learned a lot and expanded my coaching ideas and philosophy that i will definitely apply to my system and teach my players," said Libornio, who was part of Aquino's staff that took the first-ever gold in the Women's Basketball last year.

With the morale still high after that historic feat, the veteran mentors stressed the need of keeping the game relevant.

Libornio added, "With the learning we had in the TCC, we can implement changes to improve a lot and correct the system."