THERE’S an old 50s  song being played nearby when the news   that   multi-awarded  coach Alfrancis Chua is making his much-awaited  return   to  the hard court  as consultant of   crowd   favorite  Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The  singer is  Arthur Godfrey   and  the  song  goes like  this: “I’d  give  a  million   tomorrows  for  just  one   yesterday. For what good  is  life  without the  one you  love.”

Well, Chua  does  not  exactly sing  the  song. He  was barely in his teens when  the  song went on  the  airwaves in 1955.

But  like  the singer and the song,  Chua is  trading  all  of  his  tomorrows for  just one more yesterday when  he  finally  ends  four  years of   hiatus  and   sits  on   the  bench on the  league’s most popular team  beginning  tomorrow. 

“I can’t  wait  to be back  (on the  hard court),” said  Chua, who will  join  coach Siot Tangquincen  on  the  bench when  the Gin Kings  make  their debut against  sister  team  Petron  Blaze  at the Araneta  Coliseum  tomorrow night.

“It’s  really a  big  honor for  me  to work with    San Miguel Corp., especially with the  league’s most  popular team,” explained  Chua, whose last coaching assignment was with   the now-defunct  Sta. Lucia  Realty  in  2007.

Now 45 but still  vocal about his love for basketball,   Chua  admitted   he  was  “thrilled no end   when  he  got  a  call  from  San  Miguel  Corp. sports director  Noli  Eala   and  asked   about my availability.”

“One  more call and  two days later, I   was formally  introduced to the  players  and  attended   my   first  practice with Ginebra  at the  Xavier  gym,” recalled  Chua, who  kept himself  busy  the  past  four  years by organizing the Step-One  basketball clinic  with  Lyceum of  the  Philippines  coach Bonnie  Tan  during summer  and managing Grey Zone,  a  cozy sports bar in Banawe, Quezon  City.

Chua, who served  as  assistant coach of  Norman  Black when   the   Realtors  captured  the  title  in  the  2001 Governors Cup  in six games  against San Miguel , said   he   is   very  excited  to  work with  both  Tanquingcen   and  assistant coach  Allan Caidic  and  get reunited with  his  former  Tanduay players, Eric Menk  and  Rudy Hatfield.

Chua said Tanquingcen played  under  him  during  Intramurals in University of  Santo Tomas and  played  against Caidic during  his final years in the UAAP.

“I   respect coach  Siot  (Tanquingcen)  a lot,” explained  Chua, who  bagged  a  record  seven  titles in  nine  finals appearances with Tanduay Rhum  in   the  PBL.

“He  (Tanquingcen) is  a  true  professional. He’s very  hard-working. I  like  his attention to details, and he’ s open to suggestions from his  staff and the players.”

Asked  how he   thinks he will  fit in   coach Tanquingcen’s system, Chua said he will do whatever the   coach  will  ask him to do.

“But I  really hope I can contribute to the team’s performance even in a small way,” explained Chua, who is also looking forward to  a good working relationship with  Ginebra manager Samboy Lim.

Chua, who  brought  Tanduay to  four   finals  in  six   conferences, said  he  fully  adheres  to  Ginebra’s   time-tested  philosphy  of  explosive, exciting  and up-and-down  basketball.

“I think I fit right in. As a consultant on  the bench, I’ll try to give the team a little more  energy,” said  Chua, whose  trademark long hair  makes him popular, especially to basketball fans.

Chua, who is  also now working  as  commissioner of  the  Metro Manila Tiong Lian   Basketball League  (MMTLBL) ,  also  said  he  can also work  well with  the   present  core  of   Ginebra  players.

Menk, who is still  trying to get into  shape, and   the comebacking Hatfield  both played  under Chua  for  the Rhummasters.

“When we  first saw each other  during  practice, Eric and  I embraced like we’re long-lost brothers. Rudy  also couldn’t belive  we  are   being  reunited with Ginebra until he saw me at Xavier.”

Menk was  an  original   member of the  star-studded Tanduay  team when it joined the  PBA in 1999 with Chua as the  head coach.

Chua  also welcomes the opportunity  to  teach  new Ginebra acquisition  Kerby  Raymundo, who  comes from  Letran College  where Chua  spent  his  high  school, and  Dylan Ababou, who  comes  from  UST  where  he  also  played  competitive ball.

“With  Kerby, I  think Ginebra can start   winning  again. He (Raymundo)  makes  the team  a  lot  more  tougher inside and  his strong presence  can  open   up  our wings,” he said.

“Dylan, as well know,  is very athletic despite his yougn age.  He can  also  shoot  the jumper or drive strong to the hoop.”

“I also don’t see   any problem  working  with   Ginebra  stars Mark  (Caguioa)  and  Jay-Jay  (Helterbrand), who  have  not  shown  any  superstar complex. Same thing  with  resident import Chris  Alexander, who is  fast  getting ito game  shape. 

With  his new role with  Ginebra,  Chua  expects  to make  up for lost  time  and  enjoy basketball again.

That’s why  he said  he’s willing to trade a  million  tomorrows for this one  great opportunity  to  rekindle    yesterday  and  his  love   and  passion  for  basketball.   

“With Ginebra, I  think  the sky’s the  limit. And  I’m very happy to be a part of its  future,”concluded   Chua.