Pressure cooker

It’s not easy coaching the most popular team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

There are many reasons why.

First, the Big J is a tough act to follow. Robert Jaworski isn’t the Living Legend for nothing. He’s the only Ginebra coach ever to bring championships to the franchise, once owned by the Palanca family and now a key component of the San Miguel group.

Jaworski was charisma personified on the bench. He knew how to bring out the fire from his players’ bellies. He was a tremendous motivator. Doubters often pointed to the Big J’s less-than-scientific methods but couldn’t deny the results. Jaworski got the job done and that was all that mattered.

Second, the fans expect nothing less than a win in every game. The Barangay multitude is the most loyal fan brigade in the league. Ginebra fans cheer themselves hoarse win or lose. For a player, hearing the fans chant "Gi-ne-bra" is music to his ears. For a coach, it only means he’s got to outdo himself.

Third, each opposing team makes it a point to play harder than usual against Ginebra. No doubt about it, Ginebra is every team’s envy because of its massive fan base. Wherever Ginebra plays, the Kings enjoy the homecourt advantage. The fans are Ginebra’s sixth man.

Fourth, it’s been seven years since Ginebra won its last title—-the 1997 Commissioner’s Cup crown. The drought puts an added burden on the coach trying desperately to relive Jaworski’s glory days.

Finally, a Ginebra victory has a direct impact on the league’s gate receipts. For the PBA to bring back the crowds on a consistent basis, it’s no secret that Ginebra must win—-also on a consistent basis. Fans come out in droves when Ginebra is on a hot streak.

For sure, whoever sits on the Ginebra bench is in a pressure cooker situation.

After Jaworski left Ginebra in 1998, Rino Salazar took over and later, Allan Caidic. Salazar, who won a title for Shell in 1992, never brought Ginebra to the Finals. Caidic took Ginebra to the 2001

All-Filipino Finals but the Kings bowed to San Miguel Beer in six games of a best-of-7 affair.

For over three years, Caidic held the Ginebra reins. He registered a 63-90 record until finally, letting go the other day. Former San Miguel Beer assistant coach Bethune (Siot) Tanquingcen was appointed to succeed Caidic who has moved to the front office as team manager.

Caidic, 40, said the career move is a blessing and thanked management, particularly Henry Cojuangco, for it. "In a way, I’m relieved of the pressure," sighed Caidic. "I’m grateful to management for the trust and confidence. Being a team manager carries a big responsibility and I hope to quickly adjust to my new role."

Tanquingcen, 31, is no stranger to coaching. He learned the ropes from Ron Jacobs and Joseph Uichico. As a player, Tanquingcen was a point guard. He saw action in four PBA seasons, suiting up for Sunkist and San Miguel Beer. The former University of Santo Tomas cager left the PBA in 2000 and played briefly in the Metropolitan Basketball Association before joining the San Miguel Beer coaching staff.

Tanquingcen brings a point guard’s mentality to the game and that should help Ginebra whose backcourt has sometimes been a source of frustration, defensively.

It’s not as if Caidic will disappear from the Ginebra landscape. Far from it. He takes over from Eric Altamirano who is back as project director of the highly-successful San Miguel All-Stars touring squad.

The solid foundation that Caidic laid out for Ginebra is what Tanquingcen will inherit. And the team will be the better for it as Tanquingcen is expected to build on that foundation to carve out a brighter future for Ginebra.

Is Tanquingcen up to the task? You can be sure that he isn’t walking into the pressure cooker situation with eyes closed. He realizes the challenge that awaits him, the same challenge that Salazar and Caidic boldly took.

Tanquingcen’s appointment signals a new chapter in Ginebra’s wonder tale. He’s ready to face up to the challenge. If there’s anyone who can take Ginebra to the next level, it’s Tanquingcen. He knows his Xs and Os. He understands the game. He has a passion for hoops.

On paper, Tanquingcen looks like just what the doctor ordered for the Kings. Now, it’s up to Tanquingcen to gain the respect of his players, his peers and the fans because once he does, half the battle would have been won.