BARAKO BULL TAPS TANQUINGCEN TO TURN FORTUNES AROUND
Barako Bull Energy will bank on the championship experience of three-time champion coach Siot Tanquingcen when the Governors’ Cup kicks off next month.
The George Chua franchise Monday announced its plan to tap Tanquingcen to replace Bong Ramos as its head coach.
“Yes, we have already informed the team of our new head coach. We’ve decided to bring along a new voice who will lead the team’s charge,” said Raffy Casyao, Barako Bull team manager.
Tanquingcen will begin handling the practices of the team starting Tuesday.
Barako Bull reached the quarterfinals of the last Philippine Cup, where the Energy finished sixth. In the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup, the team was booted out early after finishing with a woeful 2-7 slate.
“It has been a very tough decision for us to alter the direction our team midway through the season, but we also fervently hope that change is necessary if we really intend to reach our goals,” added Casyao.
Tanquingcen incidentally won his first ever title as a PBA coach back in the 2004 Fiesta Conference with Ginebra against the same franchise he is about to handle.
He was acquired by Barako Bull as a team consultant after his contract with the San Miguel Beermen expired last December.
Casyao, meanwhile, revealed how Ramos accepted the development which was announced through an early Monday morning meeting.
“He was professional enough to give way to the new direction of the team,” the amiable team manager said of his coach for the last four conferences.
“Our team has been known as a darkhorse squad for quite some time now, and with coach Siot in tow, we’re hoping to return to our tag as contender again,” said Casyao, one of the architects of the Photokina franchise’s three championship conquests. (SBadua)
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