AMERICAN coach Todd Purves formally parted ways with the Indonesia Warriors Tuesday despite a successful two-year stint with the team, including winning an Asean Basketball League (ABL) championship last year.
“To the organization, the staff and the players, I’m at a loss for words to describe how thankful I am for the opportunity and the chance to coach these great people and to bring a championship here to Indonesia,” said Purves in an official statement released by the Warriors shortly after the team’s season-ending press conference in Indonesia.
Purves explained his success in the ABL has opened doors of coaching opportunities for him in the United States and overseas, including Southeast Asia.
The soft-spoken American coach has been included in the Memphis Grizzlies’ coaching staff in next month’s NBA Summer League, after which he is keeping his options open in either in North America or Southeast Asia.
On Monday, sources told Spin.ph that Purves is set to join Petron as active team consultant to Gee Abanilla, who will be elevated to the head coaching post of San Miguel Corporation’s flagship team in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
But the outgoing Warriors coach didn’t mention any specific offer from Petron in his statement.
“Leaving is very amicable. Nothing went wrong or anything like that. It was a wonderful time here and the success I had here has given me some opportunities both in the NBA and internationally.
“So I will look forward to furthering my career and I owe a great deal of that to the Indonesia Warriors,” he added.
In his first season as head coach of Indonesia, Purves steered the Warriors all the way to the championship following their stunning conquest of the San Miguel Beermen in their winner-take-all match.
Purves and the Warriors though, were swept by the Beermen last week, 3-0, in their Finals rematch, denying them of their bid for a back-to-back championship.
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