Ginebra coach Jong Uichico and assistant Siot Tanquincen were former head coaches of San Miguel Beer.
So when the Kings meet the Beermen at the start of their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series on Jan. 5, expect both Uichico and Tanquincen to exploit the weaknesses of their former squad.
Ato Agustin is now the mentor of SMB, the same team Uichico steered to six championships before he moved to Ginebra in 2006.
Tanquincen also had a successful stint with the team, helping them win its 18th title in the Fiesta Cup two seasons back.
The two are back together for the first time since they steered Ginebra to the championship during the 2006-07 Philippine Cup against San Miguel.
Tanquincen rejoined Uichico during the off-season.
This conference, SMB beat Ginebra twice with both games decided in the final seconds – first was a 69-68 victory last Oct. 17 and a 79-78 win last Nov. 21.
The Beermen’s first win marked Agustin’s coaching debut for the Beermen.
Despite losing twice to the Kings, Uichico believes they still have 50-50 chance of winning in the semifinals.
Game 1 will be played at the Araneta Coliseum.
Although he had the luxury of handling some players in the current SMB roster like Danny Siegle and Danny Ildefonso, Olsen Racela, Dorian Peña and Dondon Hontideros, Uichico said SMB is a different team now.
“It’s going to be a tough series. San Miguel is a very strong team,” said Uichico, noting that the Beermen now have Jay Washington, Arwind Santos and Joseph Yeo in
their fold.
“Mabigat talagang kalaban ang San Miguel,” Uichico added.
Uichico is counting on the players who helped the team reached the semifinals, including Mark Caguioa and Ronald Tubid, who had 20 and 19 points, respectively, in Ginebra’s 79-70 win over Alaska on Saturday.
In that game, Ginebra rallied back from a 20-point deficit in the first period (28-8) behind Tubid’s torrid shooting in the second period, and then Caguioa keyed a 13-0 run that turned a 62-61 lead to 75-61 with 5:36 left.
“Let’s see what happens in the semifinals. We must try to lessen their size advantage (SMB),” Uichico said.
Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
