‘NEW BEGINNING’ FOR ENERGY
SIOT Tanquingcen has been coaching in the PBA for quite a while and has even won three titles to boot.
But Tanquingcen admittedly feels like a newcomer when he handles Barako Bull for the first time in its match against Meralco 3 p.m. Sunday to start hostilities in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts would be bristling to bounce from a very disappointing exit in the Commissioner’s Cup, when they failed to get the job done against Rain or Shine despite a win-once advantage in the last two games of their quarterfinals duel.
That knowledge only adds up to Tanquingcen’s apprehensions.
“Tomorrow is a new beginning and a new challenge, both for the team and myself,” said Tanquingcen, the erstwhile team consultant who took over from Bong Ramos when the Energy wound up ninth in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The transition from Ramos to Tanquingcen took place less than a month ago and Tanquingcen knows his team’s first game sure will feel like a baptism of fire.
For starters, Meralco has enlisted the services of NBA veteran Terrence Williams, a known scorer who can light it up from any point on the floor.
“T-Will is adjusting well and we are looking forward to play our first game,” said coach Ryan Gregorio.
And the Bolts still boast of a packed local crew headlined by the likes of Gary David, Reynel Hugnatan, Jared Dillinger and Cliff Hodge, making Gregorio more upbeat about his team’s chances.
“Good test for us. So far so good in terms of our preparations,” said Gregorio. “Barako is always a dangerous foe. They have players who can play at a high level and we must get the job done on defense.”
Barako has its own arsenal, led by JC Intal, Willie Miller, Mick Pennisi, Denok Miranda and Ronjay Buenafe.
It is on playing defense and snaring those rebounds that Tanquingcen wants his charges to focus on more, however, an objective that suffered a huge hit when Dorian Pena had to undergo surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon.
To offset the absence of Pena and another injured player in Rob Labagala, the Energy have activated Hans Thiele.
Topping it all up, Barako has also brought in Eric Wise, the son of former PBA import Francois Wise, as reinforcement for the tournament featuring reinforcements standing no taller than 6-5.
“Otherwise, everyone’s relatively healthy naman,” said Tanquingcen. “Yung sa import tingnan natin. Alam naman nating sa actual game lang ma-te-test talaga.”
Winning every game is a must for the combatants since tournament format calls for a sprint-like nine-game eliminations with only the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals, where the Nos. 1 to 4 teams will have win-once advantage over their respective foes. (NC)
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