A TOWERING 7-foot-3 figure awaits Pat Aquino as he makes his Blackwater coaching debut in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday.
Bol Manute Bol and the TNT Tropang 5G welcome the former Gilas Pilipinas women’s team mentor when he calls the shots for the struggling Bossing for the first time at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
READ No time to waste for Pat Aquino after Blackwater coaching change
The Bossing have lost their last two outings including a 56-point blowout at the hands of Rain or Shine to fall to a 1-4 record, leading to a coaching change that saw Aquino assume the post from predecessor Jeff Cariaso.
Aquino, 54, is aware of the huge responsibility he has taken in becoming the team’s interim mentor over the weekend.
“I know it’s a big task coming up. Tough game against TNT especially with Bol Bol around, and a veteran and champion coach like coach Chot [Reyes],” said Aquino after conducting his first practice with the franchise on Saturday.
The Tropang 5G are at 3-2 and coming off a 101-89 win over Terrafirma.
From the looks of it, TNT is just the tip of the iceberg in what could be a challenging start to Aquino’s coaching career in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
“Actually not just TNT, it’s the games behind Phoenix on Friday and then next Wednesday San Miguel, Ginebra on the next Friday, and Macau on Tuesday. Parang sunud-sunod. Parang two days lang ang break and then laro ng laro,” said Aquino.
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Nonetheless, the new Blackwater coach said he’s ready to face the challenge head on.
“I told the team that my job is to make you win, make you winners. I’m a winner, so let’s work together and be winners,” said the country’s most successful national women’s basketball coach team of all time.
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