San Miguel Beer plays B-MEG Derby Ace tomorrow for the second semi-finals berth in the PBA Fiesta Conference and Siot Tanquincen will continue to call the shots for the Beermen.
A few weeks ago ,animosity rocked the SMB camp due to a sudden coaching change. Assistant coach Renato “Ato” Agustin was inserted as head coach with Tanquincen sliding down to deputy chores. With Agustin at the helm, the Beermen suffered back-to-back defeats and temporarily put in peril the team’s chances of barging automatically into the semis. The SMB management dismissed the allegations of many that Agustin from thereon will be the new head coach. They said that it is only a part of the on-the-job training for all their assistant coaches to call the shots for the team in a game or two. But news spread like wildfire that Agustin is on his way to becoming the new SMB coach next season.
Agustin maybe a good college tactician but Tanquincen has already proven his worth in the pros by winning championships with SMB and Ginebra, respetively. There is a big difference between coaching in the pro league and the collegiate league and many feels SMB will be more competitive with Tanquincen as the top mentor.
With all that he has contributed and done to the San Miguel franchise, Tanquincen definitely deserves more respect.
*****
Everything has been quiet on the Philippine Patriots camp since winning the inaugural season of the regional ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). With ABL’s second season set to begin in three months time, nothing has been heard on the team composition of the Mikee Romero-owned franchise.
Most of the Patriot’s stalwarts from last season are either playing in the PBA or the PBL-Liga tourneys. Rob Wainwright, Jerwin Gaco and Christian Coronel are currently with the Barako Bull squad while Elmer Espiritu and Val Acuna are presently strutting their wares in the PBL-Liga Tournament of the Philippines (TOP). Even their import Gabe Freeman is busy playing for the San Miguel Beermen. There are talks that Romero is exploring the possibility of joining the PBA next season either by buying an existing PBA franchise or making it through via the backdoor as an expansion club. Now, where does that leave the Patriots in the ABL? Actually, Mikee Romero co-owned the Patriots franchise with former ABC-5 (now TV-5) owner Tonyboy Cojuangco. If Romero eventually leaves the Patriots then Cojuangco can start looking for a new co-owner.
Last season, there were talks that PLDT bigwig Manny Pangilinan is interested in joining the ABL with a second Philippine franchise and if MVP pushes through with his plans then maybe the most viable thing to do is join forces with Cojuangco in the Patriots camp. Pangilinan now owns TV-5 (where the Patriots games are covered) and that would be an added plus in negotiations with Cojuangco.
*****
I received this morning an interesting text message from one of the most-respected original NBA authorities in the country, Alberto “Bert” Ramirez.
Ramirez, one of the co-founders of our Celtics Philippines E-Group, says:
“Doc Rivers is staying to coach at least one more year with the Celtics. The Celtics are also expected to re-sign Pierce to a multi-year deal, probably at a lower price despite his agent’s posturing, with Doc’s return.
Ray Allen’s re-signing could take longer though as the length of the deal has to be determined to both sides’ satisfaction. Allen has reportedly been contacted by LeBron James for a possible team-up in Miami with Wade.”
A few weeks ago ,animosity rocked the SMB camp due to a sudden coaching change. Assistant coach Renato “Ato” Agustin was inserted as head coach with Tanquincen sliding down to deputy chores. With Agustin at the helm, the Beermen suffered back-to-back defeats and temporarily put in peril the team’s chances of barging automatically into the semis. The SMB management dismissed the allegations of many that Agustin from thereon will be the new head coach. They said that it is only a part of the on-the-job training for all their assistant coaches to call the shots for the team in a game or two. But news spread like wildfire that Agustin is on his way to becoming the new SMB coach next season.
Agustin maybe a good college tactician but Tanquincen has already proven his worth in the pros by winning championships with SMB and Ginebra, respetively. There is a big difference between coaching in the pro league and the collegiate league and many feels SMB will be more competitive with Tanquincen as the top mentor.
With all that he has contributed and done to the San Miguel franchise, Tanquincen definitely deserves more respect.
*****
Everything has been quiet on the Philippine Patriots camp since winning the inaugural season of the regional ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). With ABL’s second season set to begin in three months time, nothing has been heard on the team composition of the Mikee Romero-owned franchise.
Most of the Patriot’s stalwarts from last season are either playing in the PBA or the PBL-Liga tourneys. Rob Wainwright, Jerwin Gaco and Christian Coronel are currently with the Barako Bull squad while Elmer Espiritu and Val Acuna are presently strutting their wares in the PBL-Liga Tournament of the Philippines (TOP). Even their import Gabe Freeman is busy playing for the San Miguel Beermen. There are talks that Romero is exploring the possibility of joining the PBA next season either by buying an existing PBA franchise or making it through via the backdoor as an expansion club. Now, where does that leave the Patriots in the ABL? Actually, Mikee Romero co-owned the Patriots franchise with former ABC-5 (now TV-5) owner Tonyboy Cojuangco. If Romero eventually leaves the Patriots then Cojuangco can start looking for a new co-owner.
Last season, there were talks that PLDT bigwig Manny Pangilinan is interested in joining the ABL with a second Philippine franchise and if MVP pushes through with his plans then maybe the most viable thing to do is join forces with Cojuangco in the Patriots camp. Pangilinan now owns TV-5 (where the Patriots games are covered) and that would be an added plus in negotiations with Cojuangco.
*****
I received this morning an interesting text message from one of the most-respected original NBA authorities in the country, Alberto “Bert” Ramirez.
Ramirez, one of the co-founders of our Celtics Philippines E-Group, says:
“Doc Rivers is staying to coach at least one more year with the Celtics. The Celtics are also expected to re-sign Pierce to a multi-year deal, probably at a lower price despite his agent’s posturing, with Doc’s return.
Ray Allen’s re-signing could take longer though as the length of the deal has to be determined to both sides’ satisfaction. Allen has reportedly been contacted by LeBron James for a possible team-up in Miami with Wade.”
No comments:
Post a Comment