Toroman relieved as Petron mentor

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. – Alaska vs Air21

7:30 p.m. – Petron Blaze vs Globalport

MANILA, Philippines - Petron Blaze relieved Serbian mentor Rajko Toroman of his coaching chores, giving Olsen Racela full control of the Boosters as they tangle with the Globalport Batang Pier in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

Racela will now go solo after the team management decided to abandon their unique setup where the former shared coaching chores with Toroman.

“Coach Rajko will no longer take active part in the team as I was advised by the management Tuesday,” Racela told The STAR.

Toroman was also conspicuously absent behind the San Mig Coffee bench Wednesday night. Apparently, the foreign coach, consultant to SMC’s three teams in the PBA, would be moved over to the ABL (Asean Basketball League).

“The management knows what’s best for the team. I’m ready to follow orders,” said Racela, helped by deputies Gie Abanilla, Pido Jarencio, Jorge Gallent and Biboy Ravanes in preparing the team for their 7:30 p.m. tiff with the Batang Pier.

“We’ve made the necessary adjustments offensively and defensively in the absence of Junmar (Fajardo) and Danny I (Ildefonso),” Racela pointed out.

Ildefonso is out for the rest of the all-Filipino tourney as he’s to undergo surgery to repair his injured left shoulder.

The two-time MVP winner dislocated his left shoulder for the nth time in their game against Barangay Ginebra Sunday.

“We’ve become smaller minus Junmar and Fajardo. Jay Wash (Washington) will now play No. 5 spot, and you’ll see a lot more of Jay Wash and Arwind Santos playing together,” said Racela.

Petron didn’t succeed playing under coaches Toroman and Racela, struggling with a 2-3 win-loss record, marred by three straight losses.

Toroman was relieved amidst growing dissent among the players on how the Serbian mentor run practices and the game itself.

Petron barely beat Barangay Ginebra, and the Boosters go for a first successive wins in the season versus the Batang Pier tonight.

The Batang Pier, sharing the cellar with the Air21 Express at 1-4, are the decided underdogs.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk shoots for a third straight win against Air21 in the day’s other game.