For Barangay Ginebra, the first order for year 2013 is a major change in the coaching set-up. With the team deemed to underperform and underachieve in the last four conferences, the team management decided to elevate coaching consultant Alfrancis Chua to head coach in lieu of Siot Tanquingcen who was relegated back to his old post as assistant.
“Yes, pahiyang (Yes, we’re looking for a good break),” Robert Non, a top SMC executive and PBA board chair confirm their decision finalized on the first day of the new year.
“Siot (Tanquingcen) will be the first assistant which is the role of Alfrancis at present. We’ve done that before and the result was positive,” said Non.
“It’s a continuing process for the improvement of our teams,” said Non of the process they also undertake in the other SMC teams, namely Petron Blaze and San Mig Coffee.
The coaching change actually did not come as a surprise, with it being the subject of speculations since last year following a string of disappointing finishes by the Kings. The Kings didn’t improve in the current Philippine Cup, bundled out by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the quarterfinals.
In his first season after reassuming the head coaching job at Ginebra last year, the Kings’ performance dipped to .578 (26-19 win-loss record) from .586 (34-24) in 2010-11 under coach Jong Uichico.
The Kings settled for sixth place in the Philippine Cup before improving to third in both the Commissioner’s and the Governors Cups. The Kings fared better in the previous year, finishing third in the first conference, second in the second confab and fourth in the third and final conference.
Tanquingcen has three titles tucked under his belt as head coach but hasn’t won one since steering San Miguel Beer to championship in the 2008-09 Fiesta Conference. He’s thankful to the management despite his demotion. “I’m grateful for the opportunity I got from God and the team management to lead the team of Ginebra a second time around. I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement through this past season,” said Tanquingcen.
Ginebra hasn’t won a championship since the 2007-2008 Fiesta Conference, and the management obviously aches to end the drought. They’re pinning their hopes on Chua, who is not new to head coaching job in the PBA, having been bench chieftain with the defunct Tanduay and Sta. Lucia Realty teams.
A former Letran Squire and UST Tiger, Chua was a multi-titled coach with the Asia Brewery Inc. franchise in the PBL, gaining a reputation as a “player coach.” Now that position has been given to Chua, who assumed the head-coaching position at Ginebra barely a year after coming out of a long break from coaching to join Tanquingcen’s staff as an assistant.
Chua has had a successful career in the amateur leagues and made his coaching debut in the pro league with Tanduay in 2000. The long-haired mentor’s last head-coaching stint was with Sta. Lucia in the 2006-2007 season. Chua has yet to win a PBA championship but has built a reputation as a ‘player’s coach’ who brings the best out of his players, which should bode well for a talented Ginebra team that has underperformed under Tanquingcen. Sources said the Ginebra job has long been offered to Chua, but he had repeatedly declined until now.
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ALFRANCIS Chua will make an instant impact on Barangay Ginebra.
Hours after his former coach in the amateur leagues and in the PBA was tapped to replace Siot Tanquingcen at Ginebra, Eric Menk said Chua is exactly what the doctor ordered for the league’s most popular team.
He made one compelling argument: Chua is good at motivating players.
“He’s a very good motivator, he gives his players confidence and freedom,” said the 6-5 slotman, the former PBL Rookie of the Year and MVP who led Chua-coached Tanduay teams to multiple titles in the amateur league. “ I had the best years of my career under him.”
Menk, who also led the Tanduay teams when the Lucio Tan franchise took its act to the pro league, also believes that the ponytailed bench tactician has what it takes to bring a championship to Ginebra.
“Ginebra struggled last conference, and they’ve been inconsistent (from the games that I saw). So I think this is where the talent of coach Al comes in”, said the 2004 league MVP. Menk, however, was the first to say that the job won’t be easy for his longtime mentor.
“He’ll have his hands full there, I’m sure. It’s a high-pressure job. I wish him the best, I think he will do well,” said Menk, who has moved to San Miguel’s team in the ABL prior to the start of the season.
Asked if he is looking forward to returning to the PBA and ending his career under Chua, the 38-year-old Menk said: “I’ve spent months getting ready for San Miguel and hopefully help bring a championship there. I’m focused on that this time.” But he was quick to add: “We’ll see. I love Ginebra!”
column courtesy of: spin/philstar
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