TERRAFIRMA has one of the leanest coaching staff in the PBA today.
In an era when PBA franchises have at the very least four personnel as part of their brain trust, the Dyip have been making do with a three-man coaching staff led by head coach Raymond Tiongco in the Commissioner's Cup.
The Dyip, you see, didn’t fill the void left by Tiongco when he was elevated to head coach replacing Johnedel Cardel, who was handed his pink slip after the season-opening PBA Governors' Cup.
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As a point of comparison, San Miguel has no less than six coaches - Jorge Gallent and his deputies Ato Agustin, Boycie Zamar, Peter Martin, Biboy Ravanes, and Dayong Mendoza - plus a coaching consultant in Leo Austria.
Magnolia has seven coaches, with Jason Webb, Juno Sauler, Johnny Abarrientos, Mon Jose, Itoy Esguerra, and Tony Espinosa assisting head coach Chito Victolero.
But there are plans to tap people who can help Tiongco and his two deputies in Ronald Tubid, who also serves as team manager, and Raymund Gavieres, man the sidelines for the Dyip.
“Sinabi ko na sa management, pero for now 'yan muna. So siguro next conference na kasi biglaan yung naging rotation namin,” said Tiongo after Terrafirma’s 104-85 loss to NLEX in Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Tatlo lang kami. Yung manager ko nga (Tubid) assistant coach ko pa e. Defensive coach ko siya.”
If there is a good thing about having a three-man crew, Tiongco said it’s the familiarity, having been together for a long time now dating back to the years when Cardel was still at the helm.
“Pero okay naman kami kasi magkakakilala na kami, ako kasi all-around ako nung time ni coach John,” he said.
Still, Tiongco said it would really do the team a world of good if it can get an additional help.
“Pero hopefully madagdagan kami. I really need an assistant big, yung malaki na magtuturo dun sa mga big men namin kasi lahat ngayon tinuturo ko from 1-2-3-4-5,” said the Terrafirma coach with a smile.
Any particular name he has in mind?
“Wala pa,” said Tiongco. “Siyempre gusto namin yung makakatulong din sa amin.”
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