New coaches up in SMC revamp

MANILA, Philippines - Siot Tanquingcen is expected to be among those to be affected by the looming overhaul of coaches in the SMC teams in the pro loop.

Tanquingcen, however, said he’s ready to accept whatever the management thinks is best for the team.

Word making the round is Tanquingcen will be sliding back as deputy to Jong Uichico.

The names of Robert Jaworski and Alfrancis Chua are also being mentioned as possible additions to SMC’s pool of coaches.

Sources said the revamp of the San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra coaching staffs is likely to happen after the two teams played below expectations in the 2009-2010 PBA season.

Tanquingcen, in fact, was ordered to give way to Gie Abanilla as early as Game Five of the just concluded PBA Fiesta Conference.

Sources, however, said it’s not a guarantee Abanilla would hold on to the job through to the next season.

What looks certain is that Tanquingcen is out of it.

“I really don’t know where I go from here. It’s the management’s call,” said Tanquingcen.

“I can’t question their decision. To me, it’s like coaching, the coach calls the shots in his team. I can only be thankful to my bosses (SMC chairman Danding Cojuangco and SMC president Ramon Ang). I didn’t ask to be named head coach at Ginebra and San Miguel but they put me there,” Tanquingcen also said.

“I’m okay to what’s the management thinks is the best for the team,” Tanquingcen added.

The Smart-PLDT group has also effected some movements, bringing in Ronnie Magsanoc, Boyet Fernandez and Patrick Fran to assist Ryan Gregorio at Meralco.

Earlier, they moved Virgil Villavicencio to Meralco to be its team manager and promoted assistant coach Aboy Castro to manage the Talk n Text team.