After three years of dominance in the NCAA, Bonnie Tan is looking to bring some magic in the PBA and will handle the NorthPort Batang Pier in the upcoming Governor’s Cup.
Magic-maker Bonnie Tan will take over as head coach of NorthPort Batang Pier in the upcoming PBA Governor’s Cup which opens on January 22.
The development was confirmed by multiple sources closely monitoring the situation saying that Tan is set to switch roles with long-time mentor Pido Jarencio who will now serve as the team manager.
According to Sports Inquirer, since handling the Batang Pier in the 2017-18 season, the team has only made it to the semifinals once in the 2019 Governor’s Cup and has garnered a 47-78 elimination round record and 4-11 in the playoffs in 12 conferences.
However, to start the 2023, NorthPort has been making big moves to bolster their lineup and ended up acquiring Joshua Munzon from Terrafirma and Paul Zamar from San Miguel Beer in separate trades.
The two newbies will be teaming up with MVP caliber Robert Bolick, Arvin Tolentino, Arwind Santos and William Navarro.
Tan will leave his collegiate coaching career with the Letran Knights after a rare three-peat — the school’s first since the era of Samboy Lim — sweeping the NCAA title since his entry in the league in 2019, with a 34-11 elimination round record and 10-2 in the playoffs as reported by Tiebreaker Times.
Additionally, sources have reported that Tan has recommended lead assistant Rensy Bajar to helm the reigning NCAA Champions after he officially vacates the post.
In an interview with GMA News on Friday however, Tan insisted that nothing has been etched in stone yet as he is yet to be formally announced as the head tactician for the team.
"Sa Letran, I’m still the head coach and I’m still the team manager ng NorthPort. Kumbaga I still have a contract with Letran and have to honor that," Tan told GMA News Online.
"Ako lang ang ginawang interim para i-handle muna ‘yung NorthPort pero ‘di pa head coach," he added.
Tags: #PBA, #NCAA, #headcoach