SOL-ution

From my manila standard column 11/12/10

Determination, hunger to win, fortitude. Characters that will drive any great competitor to eradicate anything that gets in the way of them and victory. Sometimes, the desire to succeed compels them to challenge those who they feel do not share the same vision. And that is all because they know what it takes to come out on top.

Weeks ago, Sol Mercado was benched for the 2nd half during the Rain or Shine game against Ginebra. Trying to get into the groove in the first half, the Elastopainters played catchup to the Gin Kings and put up a decent fight and were only down by 6 points at halftime. It was Coach Caloy Garcia’s prerogative to do what he feels is best with his team. He is after all the coach. Mercado watched the game slip away from the bench. Confused. Frustrated. They lost 90-73.

After the game, when all the players already left, Mercado confronted his coach and questioned his decision to keep him on the bench. Mercado knows what he could’ve done to help the team. The argument was heated to say the least. Words were said and threats were made. It got ugly. It was a verbal smackdown.

The team owners had to intervene specially because both parties were ready to leave the team and throw it all away. The solution came about over lunch as both sides were heard. Both just didn’t see that they wanted the same thing – win.

Ceasefire came. The result was a 98-86 drubbing of Barako with Sol Mercado top scoring with 21 points, and a 110-107 slaying of the giants, the San Miguel Beermen with Mercado putting up 26 points (which included a 6 of 12 three point shooting binge) and 8 assists! It was his best in the conference! He became the unanimous choice as the PBA Press Corps Player of the week.

Sol never came out and said anything about the altercation or what had happened afterwards. He let his game do the talking instead. He showed that all he really wanted was to win and that he could really help the team.

He’s currently on leave for the next couple of weeks from the PBA to be with the Smart Gilas squad in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou China. It’s his first stint wearing the national colors, a feat he truly is proud of. Along with Chris Lutz, he was a last minute addition to the official lineup that had just been approved a day before they were set to leave for their tune up games against two CBA teams in Guangdong.
He’s excited to be playing under Coach Rajko Toroman whom he easily adjusted to.

Already Mercado is equipping himself with Coach Toroman’s plays and coaching styles so when the time comes, he too can pass it on the teams he would coach in the distant future.

For updates on Sol Mercado, follow @SM3rc3 or @patriciahizon on twitter.