AGUSTIN BACK AS GINEBRA HEAD COACH
Barangay Ginebra is back under the guidance of coach Ato Agustin as the Kings return to practice Monday, starting their preparation for the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The buzz in PBA circles during the holidays, management will announce the change to the team formally as they gather at the PCF gym in Pasig at 10 a.m.
“Kagaya lang ng ginawa sa San Miguel Beer, the team is looking for the right harmony between the coach and the players,” said a team source.
The Beermen hit it well in their first conference with coach Leo Austria, making the Finals of the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup.
“Pahiyang pa rin. Hindi nag-click kay Jeff Cariaso eh,” said the same source.
Agustin reassumes his old post at Ginebra after the team went without success under Cariaso in the last two conferences.
Ginebra logged an even 5-5 win-loss record for sixth place in the Governors’ Cup and then improved just slightly with a 7-6 mark for fifth place in the Philippine Cup.
Cariaso and the Kings were eased out by coach Jong Uichico and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in a knockout duel in the second phase of the quarterfinals of the current all-Filipino tourney.
The Kings had two eighth-place finishes and a third-place windup in their previous stint under Agustin.
The one-time MVP awardee scored a victory with San Miguel Beer, steering the Beermen to the last of their record 19 championships in the 2011 Governors’ Cup.
San Miguel took the title at the expense of Talk n Text, in the process foiling the grand slam aspirations of SMC’s corporate rival PLDT/Smart.
The Kings have been without a title since winning the last of their eight championships in 2008 under Uichico. (SB)
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