Career plans up in the air as Tanquingcen still in shock after Ginebra 'demotion'

Career plans up in the air as Tanquingcen still in shock after Ginebra 'demotion'




Former Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen has declared his readiness to help successor Alfrancis Chua achieve success for the PBA’s most popular team. Jerome Ascano


FORMER Barangay Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen is likely to stay with the San Miguel organization, but said he is leaving everything to God.

“Kahapon ko lang nalaman, pero hinihintay ko pa kung ano man ang magiging papel o role ko sa team,” Tanquingcen bared to Spin.ph, obviously still in shock over the sudden turn of events at the turn of the year.

A source told Spin.ph the three-time champion coach will be briefed by San Miguel management of its plans for him in a meeting scheduled late on Wednesday.

“Hindi ko alam, kasi naguguluhan pa rin ako. Kapapasok lang din ng taon. Bahala na,” said the soft-spoken coach, who was relegated to lead assistant coach to give way to new Ginebra mentor Alfrancis Chua.

“Basta ako malaki pasasalamat ko sa opportunity na binigay ng Diyos at management. Malaking privilege mag-coach sa Ginebra.”

But a lot of options are definitely available for Tanquingcen in the same manner as his former co-coach Jong Uichico found a new lease on life when he was tapped by Meralco after he left Ginebra.

Tanquingcen, however, declared his readiness to help Chua achieve success for the PBA’s most popular team.

“Sa akin naman kung ano maitutulong kay coach Al kung ano direksyon gusto niya. Syempre tutulong ako kung saan niya ako i-assign,” he said of his fellow UST alumnus.

At the same time, Tanquingcen believes he steps down at a time when he has put Ginebra in a position to contend for another championship.

“At least kahit papano, alam ko papunta na ulit sa direksyon na `yun ang Ginebra. OK na ko, at least, nakatulong ako,” declared Tanquingcen.

“Slowly it’s gonna take shape. We just need time to get everybody in sync. Cohesiveness lang talaga. Kung mapansin mo, nagpaparamdam na rin ang Ginebra,” said the former coach who welcomed five new players to the Ginebra fold this conference alone.

Cohesion was, indeed, a major issue, with the Kings having to absorb new recruits LA Tenorio, Elmer Espiritu, and rookies Yousef Taha, Chris Jensen, and Chris Ellis in the
Philippine Cup.

Last season, the crowd favorites also were busy in the trading market, acquiring the likes of Dylan Ababou, Allein Maliksi, and Kerby Raymundo.

But in the process, the Kings also lost key players Willie Miller, Ronald Tubid, KG Canaleta, Mike Cortez, JC Intal, Eric Menk, Rico Villanueva, Yancy de Ocampo and youngsters Jimbo Aquino, Reil Cervantes, and John Wilson.

Source: Spin.ph