NO less than 'The Triggerman' will help De La Salle's Green Archers hit their target next season.
In another major move aimed at rebuilding its team into a championship contender, the Green Archers have tapped PBA great Allan Caidic as the team’s new shooting coach.
Caidic, regarded as one of the finest shooters the country has ever produced, confirmed the news and was in fact on his way to La Salle's Taft campus for his second session with the team when Spin.ph caught up with him on Tuesday.
"Red Archer na ako ngayon," Caidic said with a laugh, giving a nod to his University of the East roots.
The Archers have gone on a major buildup since Cojuangco returned to his old role as the team's top patron, adding top prospects Jeron Teng and Bacolod's Kib Montalbo and gaining the commitment from Cebu-based Cameroonian Ben Mbala of Southwestern University.
Caidic spent his years in the national team with the Cojuangco-backed Northern Cement program and is currently an assistant coach at Ginebra - one of the three teams under the San Miguel Corp. umbrella.
"I was asked by Boss Danding (Cojuangco) to help, syempre Boss Danding 'yan, so I want to do what I can para ma-improve 'yung team," added the former PBA MVP. "Sana makatulong."
Caidic, who led the UE Warriors to back-to-back UAAP championships from 1984, said he is still in the process of observing the skills and shooting techniques of the La Salle players in practice.
"Sabi ko nga sa mga players kahapon, (improvement) won't happen overnight," said the PBA great, who still holds all-time league records for most points scored in a game by a local player (79), three-point field goals in a game (17), and career three-pointers made (1,242).
"I told them that I need their help and cooperation, too. Dapat i-absorb nila lahat ng tinuturo natin."
Eventually, Caidic said he will be holding training sessions for two players at a time in a stint that he said will probably extend all the way to the start of the UAAP season in July.
Asked if he fears a backlash from the UE community, Caidic chuckled: "Trabaho lang po ito."
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