Coach Leo’s in the building!
FYI, the San Miguel Beermen’s coaching staff features an assistant with a colorful personality. His name is Dayong Mendoza. Aside from being a hoops tactician, Mendoza is many things.
He is a painter.
He plays the guitar and sings as well.
He also owns a coffee place in Quezon City called Dayong Art Gallery Café. In the establishment, the multi-faceted Mendoza recently celebrated his 51st birthday. His star-studded guestlist included SMB point guard and two-time PBA Finals MVP Chris Ross, four-time league MVP and PBA icon Alvin Patrimonio, and nine-time PBA champion coach Leo Austria.
It was a get-together of sorts for San Miguel Corporation luminaries. Ross continues to be one of the Beermen’s veteran leaders, Patrimonio now serves as team manager for SMC franchise Magnolia Hotshots, and while Austria is no longer coaching in the PBA, he did steer SMB to a dynastic run, before the baton was passed to Jorge Gallent in January of this year.
In the Beermen’s dominant campaign under Austria, Mendoza had been in the sidelines supporting Coach Leo. They have been through many wars on the hardwood, along with SMB’s other assistant coaches. No wonder, Austria was present in Mendoza’s special day.
Other than special occasions, however, Mendoza and Austria have been seen alongside each other, sharing their knowledge and expertise in basketball seminars organized by Camp & Play.
While fans might still be waiting for Austria’s official return to coaching in the PBA, Mendoza continues to serve as an assistant with SMB. In the Beermen’s PBA On Tour game in Tiaong, Quezon on Saturday, where they suffered a 92-89 loss to the Meralco Bolts, Coach Dayong shared on Instagram how much he enjoyed the bus ride heading to the province.
He's living the life, indeed. And he's spending it with great friends no less.
(GM)