Ogie Menor settles down in US as coach, part-time bartender and ref

Just look at Rogemar 'Ogie' Menor, a former San Beda standout and journeyman pro who has finally found a home, unexpectedly that is, as a middle school coach in the US.

After bouncing around the PBA, playing for six franchises, the last with Blackwater last year, the six-year veteran moved to Clearwater, Florida to be with his family and initially worked as a personal trainer.

“College pa lang ako, I was planning to come here already, pero yun nga, nabigyan ako ng chance to play in the PBA kaya naglaro muna ako,” the former San Beda star recounted in an online chat with SPIN.ph. “Nung nagkaroon ako ng chance pumunta dito, pumunta ako para masubukan ko buhay dito. Okay naman dito, nag-eenjoy naman.”

Loading...

“Syempre, hindi mo maikumpara ang Pilipinas dito. Mas masaya kasi ang buhay sa Pilipinas,” he was quick to add. “Pero iniisip ko kasi yung future; hindi naman tayo lagi nasa PBA. Ang paglalaro ng basketball, matatapos at matatapos din yan kahit ano sabihin mo.”

Menor had thought of returning to the Philippines after getting his green card last January when Florida Attack, a basketball organization, offered him a job to coach its eighth-grade travel team, a selection of some of the best eighth-grade players in the Tampa Bay Area.

“Sabi ko try ko i-coach at yun, naging successful naman yung team namin,” said the 29-year-old, who was convinced he has found his new calling after steering his team to championships in all four AAU (American Athletic Union) and USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) tournaments that it participated in this year. -spin.ph

Loading...