By REYNALD MAGALLON
Converge new interim head coach Franco Atienza assured that he’s ready to step up to the plate and lead his team but also insisted that the FiberXers will be ‘coached by committee’ especially with the addition of active consultant Rajko Toroman and assistant coach Charles Tiu.
“There’s a lot of resources on our bench. I plan to utilize all of the resources,” said Atienza who is taking over following the departure of former coach Aldin Ayo along with his lead deputy McJour Luib.
“At the end of the day PBA is a different animal, coaches are smart. Players are smart. It’s a veteran league and you need all your weapons na gamitin mo at least to give you a fighting chance,” he added.
Toroman, previously called the shots for Gilas Pilipinas and later on the Indonesia national team. He was not entirely new to the active consultant setup in the PBA, having done it with Barako Bull sometime in the past.
Tiu, meanwhile, is fresh from steering the Strong Group Athletics team in the Jones Cup and is also calling the shots for CSB Blazers in the NCAA.
“I’m excited to learn from him,” Atienza said of Toroman. “Napakarami rin niyang ideas. He’s been around the world. He’s been coaching for long and successful mga nakucoach nyang clubs and teams.
“If we don’t take advantage of the wealth of knowledge that he has we are shortchanging the team,” he added.
Atienza admitted that it would be a tough task in leading the FiberXers but he’s taking the challenge with the next man up mentality.
“I will enjoy the ride, I will do my best and I will not waste yung trust na binigay ng management sa akin. I mean always man up,” said Atienza who spoke to the members of the press for the first time as head coach during the PBA media day.
“Sa team when someone gets injured, someone goes down you always say this: ‘Next man up’ so sa coaches ganun din kami. We lost our coach; someone has to steer the team so I think I’m ready. I’m the next man up,” added the longtime PBA assistant who was also part of the Alaska coaching staff under Alex Compton.
