Magsanoc steps down as San Beda coach
The coaching landscape in the NCAA ranks has been shaken up anew.
Ronnie Magsanoc has stepped down as the San Beda College men’s basketball head coach, barely two months after leading the Red Lions to their 17th senior’s cage title in the NCAA.
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According to a highly-reliable source within the team who requested anonymity, Magsanoc, 46, formally tendered his resignation to chief patron Manny V. Pangilinan Saturday night during the Red Lions’ Christmas Party at the Meralco main office in Ortigas, Pasig City.
In a closed-door meeting with Pangilinan and the school’s top officials, Magsanoc made the stunning announcement, citing “personal reasons” as the main ground for his sudden resignation.
Magsanoc is the fifth NCAA mentor to resign this year, following the likes of Louie Alas (Letran), Richard del Rosario (St. Benilde), Chito Victolero (Mapua) and Topex Robinson (San Sebastian).
“Actually, walang definite reason. Talagang personal reasons lang,” stated the source.
“Matagal-tagal na rin naman kasing naka-plano ‘yung pag-re-resign niya. He just waited for the right time and the chance to meet with MVP regarding his decision. Pero dahil busy si MVP, hindi sila nagkaro’n ng chance to meet earlier. Presumably, nagkaroon na rin sila ng pag-uusap ni MVP. Maybe thru text or thru phone,” the source added.
Magsanoc, who also serves as an assistant coach with the Meralco Bolts, was tasked to take over the coaching reins for San Beda in lieu of Frankie Lim, who was banned for two years after getting involved in an ugly brawl between the Red Lions and the San Sebastian’s volleyball team last December.
The Red Lions finished the eliminations with a league-best 18-4 win-loss mark, knocked out Perpetual Help in the semifinals then outclassed host Letran 2-1 in an epic best-of-three finals, completing the school’s second ‘three-peat’ in the last seven years.
While bidding farewell to his players, Magsanoc also recommended team consultant Boyet Fernandez as the next head coach, a development that appeared to gain approval from Pangilinan.
“Since Coach Boyet is already with the team, kilala na niya ‘yung mga bata so and’un na rin continuity ng sistema,” the source related. “And MVP now considers Boyet as the top candidate. They will still look for other candidates though, but Boyet appears to have the support of the majority.”
The school, added the source, will conduct a series of meetings and is expected to release a formal statement as early as the first week of January next year.
In other developments, the Semerad twins–Anthony and David–are now back in the good graces of the school and will “join the training camp starting on January,” added the source.
The Semerads, who initially planned to take their talents to Ateneo, have enrolled at the Mendiola campus anew and are expected to give the Red Lions added firepower next season.
