SMC shuffles coaching, managerial staff

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Corp. set in motion Tuesday its planned reorganization of its three PBA ball clubs, sending nine members of its coaching and managerial staff in a merry-go-round.

Petron Blaze underwent major overhaul with Gee Abanilla and Siot Tanquingcen tapped as new head coach and team manager in lieu of Olsen Racela and Hector Calma, respectively.

Racela, Calma, Samboy Lim, Koy Banal, Ato Agustin, Jorge Gallent were transferred to new teams or new positions in the shakeup apparently triggered by Petron’s underachieving performance in the past two years.

Leo Austria and Boyzie Zamar came on board following triumphant jobs in the ABL and in a collegiate pre-season league, respectively.

Former Indonesia Warriors coach Todd Purves will also be a key addition once a deal with the giant corporation is reached.

Abanilla, who has served as deputy to Derrick Pumaren, Yeng Guiao, Rajko Toroman and Racela, is to work closely with Purves with Austria, Banal and Biboy Ravanes helping as assistant coaches.

Austria, who steered SMB to championship in the recent ABL, is expected to play a bigger role at the end of the collegiate season. He’s still tied up with the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP.

"We in our (SMC) group have a continuing process of evaluation and periodic reviews, just like what we do in business, and sometimes we do it as pahiyang," said SMC official Robert Non in confirming the revamp reported earlier by The STAR.

"In this case, we would like to do another pahiyang by appointing Gee Abanilla to be the head coach of Petron," Non added.

 As new team manager of the Boosters, Tanquingcen is also expected to help in coaching.

Out of the Petron bench is Calma who’s been appointed as Petron’s alternate representative to the PBA board. Also moving from team manager to alternate governor was Lim over at Ginebra.

From Petron, Racela was transferred to San Mig Coffee, joining Johnny Abarrientos, Jeffrey Cariaso and Richard del Rosario as coach Tim Cone’s assistants.

"Who better to learn from than from a head coach who has 14 titles under his belt? Moving Olsen over under coach Tim is actually a continuation of his proper training,” said Non.

Banal, Agustin and Gallent, meanwhile, all moved over to Ginebra, joining Art dela Cruz, Juno Sauler, Allan Caidic and Zamar as part of coach Alfrancis Chua’s think tank.

"Priority nina Juno, Allan and Zamar iyung commitments sa respective schools nila kaya we decided to go with a bigger staff, para tulad sa Petron magtutulungan din sila-sila," said Non.

Sauler and Caidic are the head coach and shooting coach of the La Salle Green Archers while Zamar calls the shots for the University of the East.