Beyond The Arc: The Untold Stories of Coach Jem Manalang and Coach Jack Daniel Calinawan

In the basketball world, the audience usually limits their focus to the flashy players, their skills, and the final scores. Only a select few see the hours of preparation, planning, and effort exerted by the coaches to ensure the success of their players. Coach Jem Manalang, the strength and conditioning (S&C) coach of the basketball varsity, and Coach Jack Daniel “JayDee” Calinawan, the physical therapist (PT) for all sports varsities, are two new varsity coaches who have put in countless hours to help MGC New Life (MGCNL) student-athletes shine on the court.

Coach Jem Manalang

Manalang has loved basketball from the very start. Raised in Caloocan City, she was surrounded by overflowing basketball influence from her family, especially from her father and sister. The sport has had a special spot in her heart – she loved playing with her relatives in the province and even decided to play collegiate basketball. Unfortunately, she encountered numerous problems with her teammates and decided it was best for her to leave the team, as she no longer felt comfortable playing basketball there.

Deciding to shift her focus to her studies instead, Manalang graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) and planned to enter medical school. However, God had different plans for her, leading her to work with one of the greatest S&C coaches in the country during her final year at UPD. Although coaching was never really her first option, this experience allowed her to receive several job offers right away.

In her coaching career, Manalang joined many different sports teams as an S&C coach before coming to MGCNL. She is currently a part of the coaching staff of the UP Men’s Basketball Team, Ateneo De Manila University’s Women’s Basketball Team, and more. While working at UP, she met current MGCNL basketball varsity coach, John Sia, and the rest is history. 

Manalang says that her favorite part of coaching at MGCNL is the players, saying that “the players are a different breed.” Although she only meets the players a few times a week due to her tight schedule, she is often seen encouraging the boys to push themselves to be the best they can be. In her opinion, basketball is ultimately about character and how the game shapes each player’s. She encourages all young athletes to give it their all and enjoy the wave.

Coach Jack Daniel Calinawan

Despite only joining the school this year, Coach Jack Daniel Calinawan, also known as Coach JayDee, has already made a big impact on the overall health and success of MGCNL student-athletes. With his role as the physical therapist, athletes from all sports constantly receive treatment, advice, and care from him. Even before coming to MGCNL, Calinawan had already gone through a long successful journey in the industry.

Raised in Taytay, Rizal, Calinawan has already been working as a physical therapist (PT) for over 20 years. After graduating from UERM, he served in various basketball teams as a sports PT for 18 years, and also as a clinic PT for  two years. Similar to Coach Jem, coaching wasn’t really what Coach JayDee was initially pursuing, but it’s what came naturally to him. It all happened when a professional basketball team took a chance on him when he was still a fresh graduate. 

Although he never really played organized basketball, Calinawan fell in love with the game because of the nature of brotherhood and camaraderie in the sport. Throughout his career, Coach JayDee was blessed to have handled a lot of basketball players. A few favorite moments in his career include winning the 2012 PBA Governor’s Cup and the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. 

With the amount of time and dedication he has put into the school’s athletics program and helping the student-athletes, it was truly God’s plan for Coach JayDee to come to MGC New Life.  Calinawan says that his favorite part of working for the school is its community. He said that the kids are really coachable, and they reflect the school’s Christian values. “Listen to your coaches. Surrender pride and ego for the sake of the team. Be a good teammate.  Trust God above all,” advised Coach JayDee to the school’s athletes.

Coaches Jem and JayDee may be new to the school, but their journeys show how far they’ve gone and how much farther they will go. Beyond the scoreboards and stat sheets, there is an overflowing amount of support and guidance that comes from them and an unwavering commitment to the art of sports. Let us celebrate those that push the school’s sports program forward, and show love and support to our coaches.