Is expansion team Kia reshuffling its coaching staff for the next conference?
It looks that way as league sources said that Coach Manny Pacquiao’s first assistant Glenn Capacio is on his way out after he has been “kept out of the dark” lately in decisions concerning the Sorento roster for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Rumors of possible changes with the Kia coaching staff circulated Thursday night at the start of the Philippine Cup playoffs with sources claiming that at least four assistant coaches are on their way out, including Capacio.
Contacted by The Bulletin yesterday, Capacio said he has “no comment” on the issue. Capacio has an active role in preparing the team during practice sessions and in calling the shots in the all-
Filipino conference.
In a separate interview, Kia team manager Eric Pineda said that there is no truth to the rumors and Capacio is still part of the coaching staff, saying: “As far as I know, he is still our first assistant coach.”
However, come the Commissioner’s Cup starting Jan. 28, 2015, Pineda said that Pacquiao, the eight-division boxing champion who also dabbles as TV host, preacher and congressman of Sarangani Province, will have a more active role when it comes to coaching the team.
“He’s not satisfied with the stamina of the players. He wants to have more inputs preparing the team, and calling the shots during games. So we’ll see him coaching in the second conference,” said Pineda.
The team has signed 7-foot-4 Puerto Rican Peter John Ramos as import for next conference after finished between ninth to 12th places in the all-Filipino conference, and Pineda added that at least five players would be replaced in the roster.