NEW Terrafirma coach Ronald Tubid walked casually inside the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday and greeted with high-fives and bro hugs a slew of friends from the pro league circles—from officials, sportswriters, team executives, and fellow tacticians.
On the hardwood, the rookie hopefuls trying to leave a mark on Tubid were virtually unknown to him—and so his new job—but he is certainly ready to rise to the challenge.
The gung-ho former PBA journeyman and University of the East standout’s is set for his baptism of fire when the Dyip select this year’s No. 1 pick overall in the annual Draft on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay.
It’s a yeoman’s task but Tubid is unfazed.
“New role pero ito nga, scouting kung sino iyong best available talent for this Draft so for now, undecided pa rin pero may mga going there na na direction na kung sino dito iyong mapipili,” Tubid said yesterday during the opening day of the Draft Combine. “Pinag-usapan na namin ng coaching staff tsaka ng management.
“We have a list na pero hindi pa 100 percent, what if ganito, ganiyan, maraming tanong. Pero mayroon na kaming pinagpipilian for No. 1. Asof now, hindi ko muna sasabihin kasi surprise,” he added.
A nine-time champion with stints with Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, Tubid, 43, took over at the helm of Terrafirma only last week and the daunting mission of steering the wheel for the long-suffering Dyip who were nearly sold in the off-season does not jolt him.
“Hindi naman tayo sasali dito sa PBA kung ayaw natin manalo. That’s why we practice hard every day. So, kung sa akin, given the chance iyong makakuha ako ng players na maayos, ilalaban namin,” Tubid said. “Bakit pa ba tayo magpra-practice hard every day tapos talo lang, ‘di ba?
“So, not gonna promise anything pero we’ll try our best na iyon nga kahit playoff.”
Phoenix has proposed to trade its No. 2 pick for Converge forward Bryan Santos and the FiberXers’ No. 8 selection, with the transaction pending approval from the PBA at press time last night.
Blackwater takes its turn at third, followed by NorthPort and NLEX.
Magnolia (sixth), Meralco (seventh), the Beermen (ninth), Rain or Shine (10th), Ginebra (11th), and the Elasto Painters anew (12th).
But all eyes will surely be on Terrafirma’s choice.
“Kumbaga kaming coaching staff and the management mayroon na, not 100 percent, kumbaga may mga names kami na ito lang,” Tubid said. “Kasi No. 1. So, hindi pa 100 percent, pero nandoon na kami. Desisyon na lang.”
