Agustin calls shots for Beermen — for now

San Miguel Beer is now laying its future on one of its assistant coaches who will call the shots for the squad -- for the time being. This member of the Beermen's coaching staff has won championships in the collegiate and amateur ranks, a former Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player and member of the pro league’s 25 Greatest Players. More importantly, this assistant mentor has a Beerman pedigree. The new coach tasked to temporarily handle the team is no other than former San Miguel Beer stalwart Ato Agustin, who took over the reins from Siot Tanquingcen -- for the time being. Agustin was appointed by SMC management to handle the Beermen in their game against the Coca-Cola Tigers. But why the sudden change in this crucial stretch of the PBA Fiesta Cup? A highly-placed source told GMANews.TV that the Beermen are trying to test Agustin’s winning ways and allow him to call the shots on a temporary basis. “It’s just a test whether Agustin is ready to coach in the PBA, but citing his impressive performances in the NCAA and the PBL, I think he’s ready now," said a team source, who requested anonymity. The 1992 MVP played seven seasons for the Beermen, including the team’s rare grandslam in 1989. But more than being a successful player, Agustin has a string of championships as a coach. He won titles with the San Sebastian Stags in the NCAA last year and with Excelroof in the Philippine Basketball League as a rookie mentor. The Beermen are hoping Agustin’s winning touch will rub off on the squad that has lost back-to-back games. The team has lost three of its four games after winning nine straight. San Miguel Beer is in the thick of the fight for an outright semis berth. Tanquingcen refused to give details about this reported coaching change. “You just have to see it yourself. I’m not in a position to say something on this," said Tanquingcen, who was still on the Beermen bench Wednesday. But PBA alternate board governor Robert Non of Ginebra, one of the three teams under the San Miguel Corporation, said that the decision to appoint Agustin to handle the team on a temporary basis is "part of the assistant coaches' training." "It's just part of their training as assistant coaches. Just like what Art dela Cruz has been doing for coach Jong Uichico with Ginebra and Koy Banal to coach Ryan Gregorio with B-Meg Derby Ace," said Non.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios clarified that San Miguel didn't commit any violation as far as the new process it implemented internally on its team. "When I've heard that it was Ato who's calling the shots for the squad, the first person I searched for when I entered the venue was Siot Tanquingcen. When I saw Siot on San Miguel bench, that clears up everything," said Barrios in a telephone interview. "If Siot wasn't around at the time, then San Miguel did certainly commit a violation as Ato is already a head coach of San Sebastian in the NCAA." A PBA rule prohibits a head coach of a college squad from coaching a PBA team. "The presence of Siot on the bench has certainly strengthened San Miguel's claim that Ato is just an assistant coach," added Barrios. The decision of allowing Agustin to call the shots for San Miguel fueled speculations that Tanquingcen is headed back to Ginebra where he will be reunited with his coach Jong Uichico. Asked if he has any knowledge whether Agustin will officially take over as head coach for the Beermen or if Tanquingcen will join his coaching staff, Uichico said he has no idea. "Well, I was surprised also to see Ato (Agustin) calling the shots. All I know is that Ato became one of the assistants of Siot, but regarding Ato taking over as SMB coach and Siot joining Ginebra as my assistant, that I really don't know. I have no idea as far as the internal affairs of San Miguel," said Uichico. - OMG, GMANews.TV