To some, the shakeup in the Barangay Ginebra san Miguel bench still came as a surprise.
Others, however, have gotten used to the carousel.
San Miguel Corporation executive and PBA vice chairman Robert Non bared that the decision to bring back Ato Agustin as Ginebra head coach in lieu of Jeffrey Cariaso was one of the moves done by the management in hopes of finding the winning combination for the crowd favorites.
“Actually, ganun naman kami eh,” Non said. “We try to find the right mix, the right combination in the team, whether it’s the coaches or the players, or even down to the utility, just to get the right mix.”
Cariaso was shown the door after an underperforming two conference stint with Ginebra, as the triangle could only take the Kings to a high of fifth place in the ongoing Philippine Cup.
“Ang nangyari ngayon is a sort of pahiyang, and maybe this time, we will have it right,” Non said, as Agustin once again took the Ginebra coaching reins starting Monday afternoon.
The 1992 PBA MVP previously served as the head coach for Ginebra from the 2013 Governors’ Cup to the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup before Cariaso took over.
Non also expressed confidence in Agustin, saying, “He brought Petron to a championship even with some players injured. Nadala nya yun and prevented a triple crown for Talk ‘N Text at that time. We have confidence in him that he can bring success to Ginebra.”
Non also said that management is still negotiating to bring in Frankie Lim to the Ginebra bench. He also added that Cariaso is still with Ginebra, but the San Miguel governor said, “We’re still waiting for coach Tim (Cone) to arrive. We’ll talk to him kung ano pa ang pwedeng gawin.”
Cariaso and assistant coach Olsen Racela were uprooted from San Mig Coffee and brought to Ginebra before the end of the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup. (RL)
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