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.

PHOTO COURTESY: GREENARCHERS.PH

As the basketball season unfolded early this month, build-up for the next campaign in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has already begun this early. Franz Pumaren confirmed that he is indeed passing the torch to his younger brother Dindo the coaching chores for the De La Salle Green Archers basketball team. His plan to run for a Congressional seat in Quezon City in next year’s election is the reason for his resignation.

Prior to his coaching career in the collegiate ranks, the elder Pumaren has had his triumphant career as a player being a member of the coveted Northern Cement – RP Team that won the crown in the 1986 Asian Basketball Championship (ABC) now called FIBA-Asia Championship.  Besides, he was part of the San Miguel Beer team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) that took a grand slam in 1989 by winning three straight championships in that season.

As a coach, I would say that the 46 year-old Pumaren is the best coach DLSU has ever had.  He has led the Green Archers to winning five titles in nine Finals appearances in eleven seasons in the UAAP including a rare ‘four-peat’ from 1998 to 2001 seasons.

His younger brother Dindo is no stranger to basketball as well.  As a player, I remember the younger Pumaren has also his own winning moments playing for the Purefoods Hotdogs in the PBA alongside with the legendary Alvin Patrimonio. He was also the head coach of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors before joining his brother Franz at the Green Archers’ bench starting the 2009 season.

PHOTO COURTESY: COACHCOM.PH

Vincent Reyes or more known as “Chot” Reyes will receive his fourth Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Coach of the Year award tomorrow night, September 27, 2009 at the Waterfront Manila Pavilion. Reyes is the only coach in the PBA to receive such tribute four times. He had his first in 1993 while coaching for Coney Island Ice Cream Stars, now known as the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants. He then shared the same award with Ryan Gregorio in 2002. He last won the honor in 2003 after leading the Coca-cola Tigers in three Finals appearances that season.

A degree holder in Interdisciplinary Studies from Ateneo de Manila University, Chot Reyes started his coaching career as an assistant to Coach Tim Cone at the Alaska Milkmen bench in the early ‘90s. His big break in coaching came in 1993 when he was hired by the Ayala-owned Coney Island Ice Cream making a record of winning the championship on his first try in the pro league. Reyes has won five PBA titles in three different teams so far. At present, he is one among the chosen few to coach a PBA-backed national team together with Robert Jaworski, Norman Black, Tim Cone, Jong Uichico and Yeng Guiao. Besides, he is one of the few to win the PBA Coach of the Year award more than once joining the ranks of Tim Cone, Perry Ronquillo and Ryan Gregorio.

Photo Courtesy: Img17.imageshack.us

For almost a year now, Rajko Toroman has been a fixture in the Philippine basketball scene.  When his contract with the Iran’s national basketball team expired right after the 2008 Olympics, SBP Executive Director Noli Eala didn’t think twice to get the services of the coach that steered Iran to its first Olympic appearance since 1948.  At first, to get a feel of what Philippine basketball is all about, Eala invited Toroman to watch a collegiate match featuring Ateneo and La Salle.  So amazed with the popularity of the sport, Rajko Toroman saw the potential of Filipinos excel in the global level.  He then accepted the job as Program  Director of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and coach of the Smart Gilas developmental pool in late 2008. It was where it all began.

Rajko Toroman has been credited for turning the marbles for Iran’s national basketball team.  Iran won the title in 2007 FIBA-Asia championship that earned them the ticket for the 2008 Olympics. He was also recognized for molding the likes of Hamed Ehadadi, Samad Nikkhah Bahrami and Mehdi Kamrani to become top level players with Ehadadi going all the way to play for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA.

A Serbian national, Toroman was born on February 10, 1955. He used to be an assistant coach of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1996.  From then on until 2006, Toroman was a journeyman as a coach of different pro ball clubs across Europe. It was in 2007 when he was back in the international arena leading the Islamic republic to the Olympics after 60 years.  Now, he’s in the ‘pearl of the orient’ breaking new grounds in its quest for the 2011 FIBA-Asia crown.

PHOTO COURTESY: CHINA2009.FIBA.COM

Now the battle for the coveted top three slots for the FIBA-Asia Championship has reached its full gear. No matter what will be the results of the quarterfinals, Philippines will end the campaign on a higher note than in 2007. I’d like to commend Coach Joseller Guiao or more known as Yeng Guiao for his coaching genius in leading the RP 5 for a better performance.

Coach Yeng is a 5 time PBA champion coach.  He used to handle Swift Mighty Meaties in the early ’90s winning two titles with the Concepcion-owned team.  In 2000 until 2008, Coach Yeng mentored the Photokina franchise Red Bull and led the squad to three titles in  five Finals appearances.  At present, he handles Burger King Whoppers.

In the international arena, Guiao is on his first head coaching stint. He was the unanimous choice among the other PBA coaches to mentor the PBA-backed RP squad in this tournament. What I like most about Coach Yeng is his ability to bring out the best from his players. He’s a great motivator and tactician that put emphasis on speed and unpredictability that keep the opponents guessing.

Besides being a coach, Guiao is currently the vice-governor in the Province of Pampanga.