BELIEVE it or not, it’s been a decade since Siot Tanquingcen last coached in the PBA.
It has been so long, in fact, that the recently retired Meralco import Allen Durham was making his debut in Asia’s pioneering pro league when Tanquingcen last roamed the PBA sidelines as coach of the now defunct Barako Bull franchise.
“It’s been 10 years. Si Allen Durham ang import namin,” he recalled to SPIN.ph on his final days as PBA head coach.
READ Ever wondered how Bethune 'Siot' Tanquingcen got his nickname? Here's the answer
And his final game with Barako? Against TNT, then being handled by Jong Uichico.
“Barako was my last (team). And my last official game was against TNT, na-eliminate kami nila,” Tanquingcen said.
That came in the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup, where the second-seeded Tropang Giga owned twice-to-beat advantage against the seventh-seeded Barako in the quarterfinals. TNT won via blowout, 127-97.
Ironically, Uichico, now the man in charge at NLEX, was the one who paved the way for Siot's PBA return after adding him as part of his coaching staff with the Road Warriors.
Their partnership of course, goes a long way back, to their days at San Miguel Beer, and later with Barangay Ginebra - a collaboration that produced several championships for the San Miguel Corp. bloc.
“It’s been a while, actually 10 years. But okay naman, I’ve been in touch with the game,” said the 52-year-old former champion coach and product of University of Santo Tomas.
“It’s always a blessing coaching in the PBA. And grateful for the team and coach Jong for allowing me to come back.”
Asked if his reconnection with Uichico will result in a first-ever pro championship for the franchise, Tanquingcen said the Road Warriors are a work in progress.
“We’ll see. Circumstances are different now,” Tanquingcen, a three-time champion coach, said in between laughs. “But it’s a good challenge.”
After his PBA stint, Tanquingcen worked in the collegiate ranks in different capacities at De La Salle, College of St. Benilde, and National University.
The former national player came on board NLEX prior to the start of the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup, but it took a while before he joined Uichico and the rest of the coaching staff at the bench after undergoing surgery recently.
“Nag-palit ng piyesa,” was how he referred to his hip replacement surgery. “Ok naman, naka-schedule na, e. Can’t avoid it now so it has to be done na rin.”
The surgery had the former point guard, who played as a pro from 1996-2000, needing a cane as he walked on the sidelines during games.
He hopes to do away with it by the start of the year.
“Hopefully, maka-graduate. Pero better to be safe than sorry,” added Tanquingcen.
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