November 19, 2017

Rino Salazar: Itch to coach hasn't waned


Rino Salazar was a booming voice on the Barangay Ginebra bench during the Robert Jaworski era, an able lieutenant to the Ginebra playing coach in their great coaching partnership.

As he stepped out of the shadow of Jaworski briefly, Salazar made a good account of himself in winning a crown for Formula Shell in the 1992 PBA First Conference.

A PBA personality from its infancy, Salazar bade the PBA goodbye in 1999, sacrificing his career to devote time with his wife and three kids who were all then settled in the United States.

Past forward to present, his kids Jeffrey, Justin and Jed are all grown-ups, and Salazar is to retire from his job with the Alaska Airlines early in 2018.

But all these years, he's remained a student of the game, attending clinics and even taking a course in scouting and in being a basketball GM.
Sponsored content:

And he follows the PBA games on TV or online.

"Equipped tayo," said Salazar in a chat with a small group of sportswriters in his latest visit in the country.

In the same visit, he attended a Letran affair where he promised to help their basketball team - the Knights - in anyway he can.

A Letran Knight in the early 70s, Salazar has always been an avid supporter, helping out in particular Molet Pineda during his time as head coach of the team that then included Willie Miller and Kerby Raymundo.
Salazar and Raymundo have been in touch now.

Sponsored content:
"Tutulungan namin ang Letran," Salazar said.

All these years, the itch to coach hasn't waned for this jolly good fellow.
After his retirement with the Alaska Airlines, Salazar said he's open to working again in the PBA.

"Kahit ball boy," he said in jest.

A champion coach and wonderful person inside and outside the court, he'll definitely be a great asset to any organization.