PHILIPPINES' one and only two-time female world pool champion Rubilen Amit may had been mentored by the world's best coaches but she claims that their love for her has molded the woman that she has become.
Amit, 34, talked about the love of his father Bobby who first encouraged her to take the sport of billiards while growing up as a child in Cebu City. The all-out support that her father and mother gave her became a source of inspiration for her to continue honing her craft.
She also cited Edgard Asonto, Francisco "Django" Bustamante, Efren "Bata" Reyes, and Rodolfo Luat for coaching her the past 23 years that she's been playing billiards.
Amit, a WPA Women's 10-Ball double champion, said that though she is shy by nature, her accommodating coaches helped her come out of her shell as she has learned to also appreciate good communication with them. She bared communication as the first pillar of love in coaching as it made her relationship with her coaches grow stronger and tighter amid the challenges and hardships she faced in her career.
"So many people took good care of me. Malaking bagay kayong mga coaches sa mga atleta, para kayong mga nanay at tatay namin. Kayo ang sandalan namin. Malaking bagay po na you are there for us," Amit told participants, mostly coaches, of the Mindanao Peace Games Coaches' Forum third leg at the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) Friday.
She then talked about belief system and humility as the other two pillars of love in coaching.
Belief system, according to her, is important for any other athlete who is likened to a table that needs "legs" as support. The support group will serve as a constant reminder for an athlete to never give up and persevere.
The six-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist also said that she has achieved so much in her billiards career but there were still times that she would succumb to pressure and lose self-esteem. In tournaments, she had to remind herself that she is a good player, among the best in the field, and that she trained hard for it. Her trust in God also helped her overcome doubts.
But the biggest challenge for her though was coming face to face with herself, threatened by the coming of teen sensation Cheska Centeno. Her humilty was tested.
"I felt like somebody else is taking my place. I sought a life coach and talked to two sports psychologists about how I felt. I realized it was not envy but fear that I was feeling. Her coming was a blessing in disguise as I strive harder. I was assured na ang susunod sa akin o papalit sa akin eh mabait na bata," Amit shared.
She added that mentoring Centeno in every little way she can outside the game has helped her overcome her fear and become a better version of herself.
Other resource speakers were Mindanao Peace Games convenor Noli Ayo of the Ateneo de Davao University and Philippines Rowing Association's JercylLerin. Ayo discussed Ideals and Ideas of the Mindanao Peace Games while Lerin tackled Empowered Women Leaders and Its Importance to Philippine/Mindanao Sports.
The forum was hosted by HCDC headed by sports director Rudy Salvador.