Kia plays under new coach
MANILA, Philippines — Magnolia and Meralco seek to recover from earlier setbacks while Kia – with a new coach – and Alaska Milk, reeling in the aftermath of a poor season, see action today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
The Hotshots and the Picanto clash at 4:30 p.m. then the Bolts and the Aces square off at 7 p.m., each team eager to start the year with a big win. The Hotshots are the odds-on pick but are wary against the Kia squad with a new coach determined to win his first PBA game.
Ricky Dandan is the new Kia bench chieftain, taking over from Chris Gavina who resigned just before the end of 2017.
With Gavina’s exit, Kia has now an entirely new set of coaching staff under team governor Bobby Rosales and team manager Joe Lipa. The assistant coaches under Dandan are Johnedel Cardel, Robert dela Rosa and Emerson Colina.
They are all hopeful an unconventional style of play can turn things around for the team which has been winless since May last year.
Kia went without a win in the Governors Cup and dropped its first two games in PBA Season 43 versus NLEX (115-119) and Phoenix (102-125).
“I believe in the system of playing up-tempo and multiple positions for the players,” said Dandan, already well exposed in the PBA as assistant to Lipa at FedEx, Bo Perasol at Powerade and Glenn Capacio and later on June Baculi at GlobalPort.
Kia could well be up against Magnolia in a run-and-gun game with the Hotshots out to bounce back from a Christmas Day setback against the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
Meanwhile, after battling the heavy frontline crew of San Miguel Beer the last time, the Bolts will now have to endure the pressing and attacking game of the Alaska Milk Aces.
“It’s very important that we do a good job of handling their pressure defense while limiting our turnovers,” said Black, concerned with Alaska’s constant press.
“Defensively, we must try to limit the duo of Calvin Abueva and Jeron Teng while also challenging the outside shooting of Jvee Casio,” Black also said.
The Bolts played well in a 103-98 winning debut versus the Blackwater Elite then suffered a 97-103 loss to the San Miguel Beermen.
With a surprise boost from reserve player Ken Bono, the Bolts made an amazing fightback from a huge deficit but came up short in their bid in the end.