IF badminton champion-turned-coach Maria Bianca Ysabel Carlos would have her way, she could be one of the few playing coaches in the country’s long and colorful sports history.

Carlos.who went undefeated throughout her playing career with Ateneo in the UAAP women’s singles event from 2013-2018, knows she can do it.

“If given the chance, why not? I’m still young. I’m in good shape. I can still play,” Carlos told sportswriters during the weekly “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom last Thursday.

Now 25, Carlos was appointed as coach of the national team only last month.

“I was about to try out for the Philippine team to the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam this year, when they offered me the job of being the coach of the national team. Sobrang nagulat nga po ako,” said Carlos during the public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

“Madani nga ang nagsasabi na bata pa ako para mag full-time coach. Gusto ko pa nga sana maglaro sa SEA Games. Pero siyempre ngayong pandemic, may priorities na kailangan unahin,” said Carlos, who is best remembered for beating six-time Badminton World Federation Challenge champion Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam, 21-13, 14-21, 21-12, in their women’s singles round-of-16 match in the 2019 SEA Games held at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

“So I took the job (of coaching) when it was offered to me. Maganda na din yun para ibigay sa mga mas nakababatang players yun pagkakataon.”

Carlos, however, is no stranger to coaching.

“Actually, it’s my dream. Hindi naman na din bago sa akin ang coaching because in my last year of college at Ateneo, I was already coaching for the team. It’s challenging but hindi naman mahirap. I think that was also my stepping stone kaya ako napili na coach of the national team.”

Carlos, who learned badminton at the age of seven, believes the Philippines can excel in badminton.

She claimed badminton is one sport that does not require height and strength to succeed.

“Filipinos are naturally fast and agile,” said Carlos.

“Sa tingin ko, experience lang talaga ang kulang sa mga players natin. Every time we compete with other countries, lahat sila may experience na kapag nasa court sila, alam nila kung paano i-handle yung ibang teams,” she said.

“Experience-wise, kulang talaga ang mga players natin. Naninibago tayo kapag nakikipaglaro na with other countries. Yun mga kalaban, nakaka 24 tournaments a year. Sa atin, seven to 12 lang. But skills-wise, kaya nating sumabay. Nakakatalo nga tayo ng Top 20 players sa buong mundo.”

Asked about the adjustments she made as a coach, Carlos said it is matter of reaching out and communicating.

“Malaki din ang pagbabago. They used to be my playing partners and training buddies. Now, I know I need to be more mature in front of them, especially that my age is not far from them,” she said.

“Iba pa din yung relationship ko with them. Yun iba, nakakasama ko pa kapag lumalabas dati. Ngayon I have to be more strict when it comes to training, although siyempre I want them to enjoy pa rin yung training. I want them to have fun but at the same time kailangan nilang makita ang difference sa relationship ng pagiging coach at pagiging player.”

A former UAAP MVP, Carlos said she expects the Filipinos to perform better in Hanoi.

She expects Sarah Joy Barredo and Mika de Guzman, who will represent the country in women’s singles, to make the country proud.

“As a coach, gusto natin sana makapag-uwi tayo ng medal for the Philippines this year. So my goal right now is to make sure that Barredo and De Guzman are ready to ‘clear, drive, drop, net and smash’ in Hanoi.”

Being the national team coach during the pandemic is another challenge.

“We’re actually training through Zoom. So isipin ninyo, badminton sa zoom lang nagti-training. Ang hirap talaga. Although we try to maintain their stamina, yung court consistency kulang pa. We’re training in Makati pero wala pang face-to-face. Mahigpit pa talaga sa pagbubukas ng courts.

“We’re very fortunate na patuloy yung suporta sa badminton ni sir MVP, Manny V. Pangilinan. Yung MVP Sports Foundation, so may iba kaming facility. Pero hindi mapag-stay ang lahat ng players kasi limited po yung mga dorms kaya hindi kami makapag-bubble training.”
“Since walang bubble training, we focus on maintaining the strength of the players, pati yun balance, agility and speed. Whatever exercises that we can do at home, yun lang yung pinapagawa muna namin.”

Asked about the possibility of playing again in the near future, Carlos had a ready answer.

“I don’t consider myself too old to play again. Mas gusto ko pa rin ang pagiging player dahil ikaw yung face ng court, ikaw yung naglalaro sa court,” she said.

“Pero ang maganda lang din sa pagiging coach, ikaw yung 50 percent of the player. So you’re thinking ikaw yung mental strength nung player, ikaw yung mag-iisip for them, ikaw yung mag-strategize for them. So ibang challenge nga. Actually, mas nakakapagod mentally yun pagiging coach kesa player.”