Chua likely to remain Ginebra manager

MANILA, Philippines - Alfrancis Chua, who coached Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to second place in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup this season before taking over as team manager, isn’t likely to reclaim his former position even as the league’s most popular club failed to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs in the third conference.

“I’m ready to do what management wants but at the moment, I’m happy with my job,” said Chua. “I think I’m in a position to fix things. But whatever Boss RSA (San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang) and Boss Robert (Non) want me to do, I’m prepared. I took a one-month break after the Commissioner’s Cup and visited my mother in San Francisco with my three brothers. I got back during the Governors Cup. I love our team. I’ll do what it takes to make it a championship team.”

Chua said at the end of this month, the contracts of Kerby Raymundo, Willy Wilson, Rico Maierhofer and Rob Labagala will expire. “The contracts were extended up to October because of the adjustment in the PBA schedule,” he said. “We’re constantly evaluating where we can be stronger. We’re studying possible trades. We’re looking at who’s available in the coming draft.”

Chua said Ginebra’s performance in the Governors Cup was not an indication of its potential. “We were bogged down by injuries,” he said. “Kerby (Raymundo) and Japeth (Aguilar) hardly played. We had no big man to back up Dior (Lowhorn) but we fought until the end. Coach Ato (Agustin) did a good job trying to keep us competitive. But it was difficult to stay in the race without our main big men.” Ginebra beat Talk ‘N’ Text, 110-102, in a playoff to barge into the quarters against Petron which enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage. The Blaze Boosters eliminated Ginebra, 101-94, to avoid a second meeting.

Aguilar played only four games in the Governors Cup and Raymundo, three. Chua said to shore up its frontline, Ginebra may tap 6-11 Greg Slaughter as the first pick of the draft on Nov. 3. The decision will depend on who’s available and how Ginebra intends to retool. Chua said a recommendation will be made to top management. “Slaughter’s huge and if you challenge his defense inside, you’ll definitely change your shot,” said Chua. “It’s not often you get a chance to draft a big guy like Slaughter. Petron was lucky with JuneMar (Fajardo) last year but Ginebra hasn’t had a first overall pick since 1996 when we chose Marlou Aquino.” Before Aquino, Ginebra selected Noli Locsin as the top overall draft pick in 1994. Ginebra hasn’t had a first overall pick in 17 years.

Chua said bringing back Rudy Hatfield is a remote possibility and Asi Taulava seems to be staying in the ABL. There were rumors Taulava would play for Ginebra before signing up with Air 21 for the Governors Cup. “Rudy’s back in the US attending to a new business and I heard, he’ll be a father again soon,” said Chua. “As for Asi, I don’t know what his plans are. I think he’ll stick to playing in the ABL where the games are played with long in-between periods. The recovery time is much shorter in the PBA where sometimes, you play three to four games in nine to 10 days. Japeth is now 80 to 90 percent back. He’s doing a lot of strengthening to get ready for the next season. Our team is back in the gym, working out from 9 to 11 in the morning at Green Meadows. Eventually, we’ll go back to practicing at the Xavier gym.”

Another injured Ginebra player raring to step on the gas is Dylan Ababou who returned to suit up in four games in brief minutes in the Governors Cup. Chua said Ababou is slowly getting back his rhythm and form.

Chua said Ginebra’s coaching staff is well-stocked with Agustin and assistants Jorge Gallent, Boysie Zamar, Art de la Cruz and Freddie Abuda. Juno Sauler and Allan Caidic are also in the staff but because of commitments at La Salle, their schedules are crammed.

“I’m very happy for Juno who’s not only a good friend but also a good coach,” he said. “I’ll always support Juno. We text practically every day. It was a difficult situation for me in the UAAP Finals because I’m from UST. I sat behind the La Salle bench in Game 1 but in Game 3, I sat on the UST side. I was invited to talk to the UST players before Game 3. I declined as I couldn’t do that to Juno. I told coach Pido (Jarencio) I’ll just watch from the UST side. On the morning of that game, I wished Juno good luck and told him this was his day, to enjoy it. I’m very proud of Juno, he made it happen. He’s a humble guy, very intense, very selfless. Off the court, he has a very good sense of humor, a family man. He and I are big mixed martial arts fans.”

Chua said when Sauler was appointed La Salle head coach three weeks before the start of the UAAP season, they talked about it. “I told Juno he’s ready for it, he’s been with Ginebra over 10 years,” he said. “I mentioned that Boss ECJ (Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.) wouldn’t have appointed him if he wasn’t confident. Boss ECJ has been successful in business, politics and sports ever since so he knows what he’s doing. I told Juno it’s basketball he’s coaching, not volleyball, so that’s his expertise. I had a feeling from the start, things would work out. When La Salle made it to the Final 4, I told Juno he’s got a good chance of winning the championship and I would save a single-malt Japanese whisky to celebrate. I think Juno owes me three bottles now.”