CHICAGO - After months of rumors and lingering speculation, the PBA's worst-kept secret, one where politics and sports intersected, was finally laid bare late Saturday night.
Pampanga vice governor Dennis 'Delta' Pineda is now officially the head coach of the Converge FiberXers.
Obviously, the decision to take on the task did not come easily and required a lot of time to process.
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"I consulted my bosses and sought the advice of my friends in the PBA. Their positive feedback boosted my confidence to accept this appointment," Pineda told me in an exclusive early Sunday morning interview.
Besides guaranteeing that he will treat his players like family and hope to be a father figure to the young men in his roster, Pineda's mission is clear.
"With God's help, sana manalo ng championship ang Converge."
PINEDA CREDENTIALS
That desire is backed up by credentials that include back-to-back titles with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL, a three-peat in the NBL and a separate crown in the Pilipinas Super League (PSL).
Apart from assistant coaches Willie Miller, Karl Santos, Danny Ildefonso and Franco Atienza, the FiberXers are bringing in two Serbian consultants including Rajko Toroman.
"We fully support him. Malaki ang tiwala namin sa kakayanan niya as a coach. Matagal ko ng kilala si Delta, parang anak ko na rin ang turing ko sa kanya," Converge special consultant Frank Lao told me in a separate interview.
While he is committed to coaching, Pineda insists that his main priority is to serve his constituents, stressing that early morning practices and evening PBA games do not detract from his duties as the second highest elected public official in Pampanga.
Pineda won't be the first elected official to coach in the PBA while holding an elected position in government. Current Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao did the same juggling act with remarkable aplomb from 2004 to 2013 when he was Pampanga vice governor.
In a way, sports have become a form of public service for Pineda who has been instrumental in the development of basketball in his home province where the likes of superstars Arwind Santos and Calvin Abueva came from and rose to prominence.
BASKETBALL PATRON.
Most recently, Pineda traveled to Mongolia for the FIBA Under 16 Asia Cup where Jeremi Antolin, a 6-foot-7 fellow Kapampangan, saw action.
"Yun talaga ang forte natin. Player development from the grassroots and helping our national team programs," he said.
At Converge, though, the mountain to climb is a different terrain littered with the giant egos of paid professional athletes. But Pineda feels the years of toiling in several leagues has prepared him for this moment.
His arrival to lead the charge of a souped-up Converge team is sure to rekindle league interest. But Pineda said the ultimate goal is a championship.
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