Flores to be replaced by Johnny A. as FEU coach?
With Bert Flores set to relinquish his post as head coach of Far Eastern University Tamaraws, Johnny Abarrientos has surfaced as the primary candidate for the coaching job.
But the former FEU and PBA great has yet to make any decision–at least for now.
“As of now, hindi ako maka-oo,” Abarrientos, 42, said in a phone interview with Yahoo! Philippines Wednesday. “But I’m willing…in God’s time.”
Aside from serving as one of Coach Tim Cone’s assistants at San Mig Coffee, Abarrientos has also been a regular fixture in the touring pro league Legends team seeing action in various competitions in and out of the country.
“Marami kasi akong sideline. Una, mas lumaki ‘yung trabaho ko sa San Mig dahil assistant coach na ako. Second, ‘yung Legends. Sinasamantala ko na kasi ‘yung panahon na nakakapaglaro pa ako tapos nakakapamasyal pa. baka kasi in two to three years, hindi na ako makapaglaro. Kaya enjoy-enjoy na lang ako,” he explained.
“Kaya gusto ko, kung sakali mang tanggapin ko ‘yung offer (to coach FEU), buo ang commitment ko. Ayoko naman maging half-hearted ang decision ko.”
A former King Tamaraw who steered the team to back-to-back titles in 1991 and1992, Abarrientos also disclosed he has recently sat down with Mark Molina, who serves as the school’s athletic director, to tackle the head coaching job.
“Still up in the air pa (his decision). So far, ‘yun pa lang ang napag-usapan naming. Pero ginagawan ko ng paraan ‘yung schedule ko para mas maging malinaw ang lahat,” he said.
“Baka after this conference (PBA Philippine Cup) or early next year, makapag-decide na ako.”
Admitting he’s still learning the ropes as a coach, Abarrientos added he’ll seek advice from San Mig Coach Tim Cone before making his next career move.
“I-o-open ko rin naman agad kay Coach Tim kung tatanggapin ko man ‘yung posisyon. Syempre, hihingi na rin ako ng advice. I’m still (a work) in progress as a coach.”
If ever he eventually takes the coaching reins for the Tamaraws, Abarrientos, the 1996 PBA MVP and also one of the league’s 25 Greatest Players, is already planning to instill the system where he fully blossomed – the triangle offense.
“Probably ‘yung sistema na alam ko ang gagamitin ko. Gamay ko na naman ‘yun kaya mapapatakbo ko ng smooth. Mahirap naman mag-pasok ng sistema na hindi mo alam at hindi mo mapapaandar ng maayos.”
Despite retaining a formidable core led by former MVP RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo, the Tamaraws failed to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2007, prompting Flores to step down.
“Handa ko nang i-give-up ‘yung position ko para mabigyan naman ng break ‘yung iba,” stated Flores, 44, early Wednesday. “OK naman ‘yung naging performance natin nang hawak ‘yung team.”
Flores, who was a teammate of Abarrientos on those title-winning teams in the early '90s, led the Morayta-based cagers to the 2005 crown behind a team bannered by Arwind Santos and Mark Isip. He also worked as a consultant to Glenn Capacio, who led FEU to a finals stint in 2010, before re-taking the coaching reins last year.
With the Tamaraws eager to atone for their forgettable outing, Abarrientos has pointed out what they need to address, saying: “Una, kailangan ma-i-correct ang disiplina ng mga bata. Tapos ma-build-up ‘yung chemistry nila. ‘Yan ang kailangan natin magawa para makabalik kami sa semis and hopefully, sa finals then magchampion.”
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