BARELY three months into retirement, Ranidel de Ocampo is set to take on a new career in basketball.
TnT Katropa is acquiring the services of the veteran forward to become part of its coaching staff.
Team manager Gabby Cui disclosed the latest move of the franchise on Monday.
“Coach Ranidel brings us a wealth of championship experience and basketball knowledge that will definitely help our team reach our aspirations for another championship,” said Cui in a statement.
The decision to add De Ocampo in TnT's coaching staff came just a week after the team let go of former Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin in his capacity as Katropa deputy and consultant.
But Cui made it clear the exit of Baldwin has nothing to do with De Ocampo's arrival.
"We were talking na (with RDO) even before coach Tab left," stressed the TnT team manager.
De Ocampo, 38, was among the decorated TnT players in franchise history, winning a total of six championships during his stay with the team from 2008-2017.
A two-time Finals MVP and a nine-time All-Star, RDO also served as a key player for Gilas Pilipinas during his time with the Katropa. He was with the national team that placed runner-up during the 2013 FIBA Asia Men's Championship and clinched a berth in the FIBA World Cup in Spain after a long 36-year absence.
TnT later traded him to sister-team Meralco where he spent the final three seasons of his playing career until deciding to hang up his jersey last April due to health reasons.
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