GREEN LIGHT FOR SMC COACHING CAROUSEL
Finally, the long-rumored San Miguel Corp. coaching merry-go-round has been effected.
No less than 11 personalities were involved in the revamp that the giant diversified corporation undertook a little less than two months before the start of the 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Headlining the rigodon is Gelacio “Gee” Abanilla, who was appointed to take over from Olsen Racela as head coach of the Petron Blaze Boosters.
Team managers Hector Calma and Samboy Lim, and assistant coaches Siot Tanquingcen, Ato Agustin, Koy Banal and Jorge Gallent also got involved in the musical chairs, transplanted to new teams or new positions.
Leo Austria and Boyzie Zamar, meanwhile, were tapped to come aboard.
Also expected to join the group in the next few days is ABL champion coach Todd Purves.
Given a major facelift was Petron, obviously as a result of its disappointing showing the last two years.
As head coach, Abanilla will work closely with incoming consultant Purves and assistant coaches Austria, Banal and Biboy Ravanes.
Tanquingcen will work as team manager in lieu of Calma, who was appointed as alternate representative to the PBA Board of Governors.
Lim also moved up from team manager to Alternate Governor at Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. PBA Board chair Robert Non, representing Ginebra, will now also assume the duty of being team manager of the Kings.
From Petron, Racela was transferred to San Mig Coffee, joining Johnny Abarrientos, Jeffrey Cariaso and Richard del Rosario as coach Tim Cone’s assistants.
“Moving Olsen over under coach Tim is actually a continuation of his proper training,” said Non. “Who better to learn from than from a head coach who has 14 titles under his belt.”
The Ginebra coaching staff also saw some changes despite a solid showing in the team’s first conference under head coach Alfrancis Chua.
With Juno Sauler and Allan Caidic tasked to work full time at La Salle, tapped as additions to Chua’s team are Zamar, Gallent and Agustin.
“Priority nina Juno, Allan and Zamar (UE) iyung commitments sa respective schools nila kaya we decided to go with a bigger staff. Tulad sa Petron, magtutulungan din sila,” said Non.
Non hastened to add nothing is permanent.
“Continuing process ang evaluation ng mga coaches, like the players sa amin. What we want is to come up with the best possible combinations,” said Non.
“We in our (SMC) group have a continuing process of evaluation and periodic reviews, just like what we do in business, and sometimes we do it as pahiyang,” Non further explained.
“In this case, we would like to do another pahiyang by appointing Gee Abanilla to be the head coach of Petron,” Non added. (SB)
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