FORMER San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags head coach Tony Tan said he personally covered several expenses for the basketball program when funding and transportation became problems during his tenure.
Tan said in an interview with Abante Sports Now on Thursday that he paid the salaries of members of his coaching staff and also stepped in when the team’s transportation was suddenly unavailable.
“To me, it wasn’t so concerned about the funding. You know, I paid, you know, I paid my coaching staff, make sure that they’ve been taken care of,” Tan said.
According to Tan, there were instances when the team’s scheduled bus transportation was canceled with little or no notice, forcing him to find alternatives to ensure the players could attend games.
“You know, like it got to a point that, you know, we have, you know, our bus ride, you know, become, you know, no longer there or was canceled once in a while. You know, we won’t get any warning, you know, the night of or the day before or or the day of the game saying, oh, we have no, we have no transportation,” he said.
“I was trying to find a way to to get us a transportation to make sure that kids gets there.”
Tan said he also made sure that the players had meals and the necessary equipment, describing the expenses as part of his effort to establish trust within the team.
“After the game, you know, the kids gets meal, you know, in the proper equipment. I did all that. I even, you know, eat with the kids after the game or before, I do all that,” he said.
For Tan, being a head coach meant taking an active role beyond practices and games.
“Where I’m coming from is, you know, we do together with a team,” he said. “You know, it’s all about a trust. You know, it’s not just to show up at the game or or show up at the practice. You know, you have to do more.”
Tan said he believed that spending time with the players and showing genuine concern for them was essential to building a successful program.
“You know, you have to to be with the players and to show that, you know, you are passionate. You’re there and you really care.”
He also claimed that there were periods when he was not receiving his own salary because he wanted to keep the program running.
“I didn’t even get paid, you know, because I want to make surebthings will run the program.”
Tan said his decision to shoulder expenses stemmed from his belief that the team’s welfare should come first.
“I paid these people. You know, like how can you, this person work for you.”
The former Stags coach said his approach was influenced by his coaching experience in North America, where he said he expected administration and coaching staff to work through clear agreements and mutual trust.
He added that financial difficulties were among the concerns he encountered after joining San Sebastian, but he initially believed the issues could be addressed through cooperation.
“We had an agreement. There were promises that we were going to work all together.”
Tan ultimately said his willingness to spend his own money was part of the risk he accepted when he decided to return to the Philippines and take on the collegiate coaching job. (Adrian Co)
