They may fall in different categories but Negrense basketball player-turned-coach Boyet Fernandez has ranked his first PBA crown alongside the 1991 Southeast Asian Games gold medal as the greatest achievements of his career so far.

“I am happy. The win was fulfilling,” Fernandez told the DAILY STAR, a day after guiding Sta. Lucia Realty to its first PBA All-Filipino crown at the expense of favored Purefoods in a thrilling best-of-seven series.

Fernandez also bagged his first PBA championship ring with the 100-88 game 7 triumph and said the feeling was just like winning the SEA Games gold medal in 1991 in Manila.

“It’s different when you are playing for the country,” the two-time former PBA three-point king added. “But I still put my first PBA title up there with the SEA Games gold medal”.

In complete contrast with his emotional counterpart from Purefoods, Ryan Gregorio, Fernandez kept a poker face, although his team was ahead late in the game.

“I didn’t want to celebrate too early,” he said.

“In the series, the energy of my players drop when they see me happy or I give them credit. That’s what happened to us when we won the first two games”.

Fernandez said the final 1 minute and 45 seconds of game 7 was probably the longest of his PBA career.

“We could not finish them off. We split our free throws, then Purefoods drains a triple. I needed to keep the emotions of the players in check. It was a good thing we hung on,” he said.

Before tasting a championship, the 36-year-old Fernandez, a graduate of the Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, also had his share of heartbreaks, falling short three times in the finals as a player.

“I don’t want to lose in the finals anymore. I think I learned a lot of lessons being a player losing in the finals that’s why I made sure my players were ready,” he said. 

Interestingly, Fernandez beat two of his former coaches en route to the crown. In the semifinals, he beat Tim Cone of Alaska and Gregorio, who was interim Purefoods coach when Fernandez played for the club.

Fernandez said he is thankful for the support of family and friends as well as the Sta. Lucia management.

“It was the first time that I had 180 new messages on my cellular phone after Game 7. Some people I don’t know were congratulating me, saying they were really happy for me and the team,” Fernandez, who was born and raised in Valladolid town, said.

He also singled out his relatives in Libertad Baybay, Bacolod City, Talisay and Valladolid for supporting him.

Fernandez said the championship was won through sheer hardwork.

“That’s why I’m dedicating the win to my players, support staff and the management. They worked hard for this,” he said.

“I am honored to have been entrusted to turn around the franchise”.*CPT

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