Lipa: Chua will make a good Gin Kings coach

Lipa: Chua will make a good Gin Kings coach

Former mentor and one-time national coach Joe Lipa believes Alfrancis Chua will make a good coach for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.

Philippine Basketball Association chairman Robert Non announced that Chua, who was a consultant for the Gin Kings, would take over in the New Year, while former head coach Siot Tangquincen would drop down to assistant coach.

Lipa, who coached Chua when Philips Sardines won the Philippine Amateur Basketball League championship years ago with Benjie Paras as the anchor of the squad, told the Manila Standard that Chua would suit the Ginebra team.

“He (Chua) is very smart, technically sound and a good motivator,” said Lipa, who added that besides being a charismatic individual, Chua is a “very pragmatic thinker,” and is blessed with a sense of humor.

Lipa recalled that Chua also suited up in some Chinese Taipei leagues, before returning to play for him in the PABL amateur league.

The veteran coach steered the Philippines to a bronze medal in the Asian Games in Seoul in 1986, with a squad led by Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera and Jojo Lastimosa, among others.

Chua previously took over from Norman Black at the now disbanded Sta. Lucia Realty in 2004, after also serving as the American coach’s consultant. He was also the coach of the Tanduay Rhum Masters after the franchise returned to the PBA in 1999.

In an online poll conducted by AKTV, which covers the PBA games, 36.7 percent said they supported the change, while only 6.8 percent said they were against it. A majority though of 56.48 percent adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

Source: Manilastandardtoday.com