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: 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: PBA.com.ph

It’s Day 7 of the 31^st William Jones cup and the Powerade Team Pilipinas is taking a day off. So far in the tournament, RP 5 has only a win to show with 5 setbacks with two games left against Iran and Taiwan B this weekend.  The best record RP team can have in this tournament is 3-5 win-loss mark assuming the Filipinos can sweep the last two outings. Our previous RP team wound up 5-3 record back in 2007.

I agree with Jong Uichico, Coach Yeng Guiao’s Chief Scout for Team Pilipinas, that there’s no need to panic given the team’s lackluster performance in the Jones Cup. Remember this tournament is just a tune up for the bigger task in Tianjin.

Looking at the brighter side, Team Pilipinas has shown its unpredictability in offense.  Remember, only Arwind Santos has scored more than 20 points in one game so far in 6 games and that was against South Korea.  That means to say that the scoring is widely spread among the players. This will keep the opponents guessing on who they are going to watch out for.

With only two games left on the Jones Cup Calendar, I hope Team Pilipinas can sweep the remaining assignments.