Siot Tanquingcen: Shooting for the best

November 26, 2009 | Posted by benjie

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Photo Courtesy: Gmanews.tv

Bethune Tanquingcen or more popularly known as Siot Tanquingcen is one of my favorite active coaches in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). His preparedness coming into the games as well as his passion to be the best he can be are just two of the traits I like from him.

Siot was born on November 3, 1972 in Manila. In college, the 5-foot-9 point guard played under coach Aric del Rosario and was one among the UST ‘four-peat’ team in the UAAP in the ‘90s. He joined the PBA Rookie Draft in 1996 and was one of the only three undrafted rookies. He managed to sign with Sunkist Orange Juicers that season though. He then joined the backcourt rotation of the San Miguel Beer in 1997 until 1998 and was considered as the ‘12^th’ man in the team. Though his playing career was something forgettable Siot has so far reversed the fortunes in his coaching career.

Tanquingcen was named as an interim coach back in 2002 for San Miguel beer after coach Jong Uichico was loaned to handle the national team bound for the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. Siot was later elevated to San Miguel Beer’s sister team Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings head coach in 2005 where he guided the latter to win the championship in his first try as a head coach. Later in the year, the Gin Kings scored a back to back championship.

Last season’s Fiesta Conference, he was tasked to handle San Miguel Beer which he led the team to its 19^th title overall. That was coach Siot’s 3^rd in as many Finals appearances. To this day, he remains to be the only active PBA coach who has never lost in a Finals. Truly, Siot always shoots for the best.