THREE-TIME PBA champion coach Siot Tanquincen said on Thursday he has taken himself out of consideration for the vacant coaching job of the University of the Philippines Maroons.
Tanquincen was one of only two coaches extended invitations for an interview by a UP selection committee led by team manager Dan Palami. The only other invitee was former Barako Bull coach Bong Ramos.
He said previous commitments has prompted him to decline the nomination.
“Nagpapasalamat nga ako sa management ng UP kasi nabigyan nila ako ng invitation especially kay Mr. Dan Palami. Kaso committed ako dito sa church eh,” Tanquincen told Spin.ph.
The soft-spoken former San Miguel and Ginebra champion coach will spearhead the CCF (Christ’s Commission Fellowship) Basketball Learning Center starting on April 6.
“Gusto ko din sana 'yung offer, kaso hindi ko naman matatalikuran bigla yung commitment ko sa church namin, saka kay God,” Tanquincen said. “Syempre, 'pag napasok ako dun (sa UP), mao-obliga ako agad na mag-recruit na so mapapabayaan ko itong clinic.”
Tanquincen, a former shooting guard and later assistant coach of the University of Sto. Tomas Tigers, said he believes UP's current pool of coaches is capable of turning around the long-suffering program.
“UP has a long line of top-notch coaches coming from their pool. Yun din ang isa sa naisip ko that’s why I had reservations about the job,” he said.
“Pero sabi ko nga, it’s up to management to pursue whatever direction the team needs to take,” he added.
Aside from Ramos, also interviewed for the job were former San Beda mentor and current Ginebra assistant coach Frankie Lim, GlobalPort interim coach Eric Gonzales, Rain or Shine assistant coach Caloy Garcia, NLEX assistant coach Raymond Celis, Beaujing Acot, Rensy Bajar and former Ginebra and Meralco skills coach Joe Ward.
Meanwhile, Tanquincen hopes to pass on some of the skills he has gained from decades spent as a player and coach at the Basketball Learning Center set at the CCF Center along Ortigas Avenue.
The clinic is open to kids 6-14 years old.
“Non-stop basketball tayo, para makatulong naman tayo at mai-share mga kaunting natutunan natin,” said Tanquincen, who worked under legendary coaches Ron Jacobs and Aric Del Rosario.
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