Is Tanquingcen's job safe?

FACTS: The long-anticipated reorganization of the coaching staff of the two teams has started, with Ato Agustin stepping down as Petron coach and Racela’s ascension to the head-coaching position awaiting the official blessing from the people that pull the strings in the San Miguel organization.

But for league insiders the shuffle seemed incomplete, only because it left Rajko Toroman without a more defined role in the organization. The former Smart Gilas coach enjoys major backing among the people now running the show at San Miguel and has long been tipped to take on a more prominent position in the organization by the time the next PBA season comes along.

With Racela tipped to take over at Petron, supposedly after beating out Toroman for the job, league insiders have now trained their focus on Barangay Ginebra. It has come as no surprise that they now anticipate some movements there, specifically in the head-coaching position.

Like Agustin’s, Siot Tanquingcen’s job was far from secure when the 2011-12 season came to a close. The former Santo Tomas guard had not won a PBA championship in three years and the Kings failed to reach the finals in all three conferences last season, finishing sixth in the Philippine Cup, third in the Commissioner’s Cup and fourth in the Governors’ Cup.

Aside from Toroman, another possible contender for the Ginebra position is Alfrancis Chua, who joined Tangquincen’s staff as an assistant coach last season. Although Chua does not appear to be in any rush to move up the ladder in the team, he has the coaching pedigree to take over once asked.

So let’s get straight to the point: Is Tanquingcen's job safe? Will he be replaced anytime soon by Toroman?

Believe it or not, top SMC officials insist that’s not happening. Or to be more precise about it, they assured that Tanquingcen will still be making the picks for Ginebra on Sunday in the rookie draft and will be calling the shots for the league’s most popular team when the next season starts.

Where does that leave Toroman then? For some reason, there seems to be hesitation on the part of SMC officials to pull the trigger when it comes to Rajko. Whether it’s because of resistance from the players, power play within the organization, personal issues, or fear of possible opposition from local coaches (which is remote), people are not saying.

However, top SMC officials insist reports of Racela taking over at Petron are “not totally accurate,” which we interpret to mean there are missing pieces to the puzzle. On whether that means Rajko will still be very much a part of the Petron picture may only be known when San Miguel makes the official announcement.

There is already growing speculation that Toroman may be either asked to serve solely as Racela’s consultant from now on -- Toroman after all served in the same capacity in Racela's Under-18 national team -- or that Racela, 41, may be asked to become Toroman’s understudy while he grows on the job.

Only one thing is certain at this point: Tanquingcen’s job is safe. But for how long, that’s another story.