MANILA, Philippines - Philippine team assistant coach and former PBA star Glenn Capacio has been tapped as coach of the AirAsia Philippine Patriots in the third season of the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League which starts January next year.
AirAsia PH Patriots co-team owner Mikee Romero and team manager Erick Arejola announced Capacio’s appointment during a recent team practice, ending weeks of speculations on who will take over the team that is seeking to reclaim its crown in the regional tournament.
A former head coach of FEU in the UAAP, Capacio has steered Oracle Residences (formerly Harbour Centre) to the 2009 PBL championship – the franchise’s seventh and last crown in the now-defunct league.
Capacio will take over from Letran mentor Louie Alas, who steered the team to the inaugural championship.
Tony Boy Cojuangco, Romero’s co-team owner, also welcomed Capacio’s appointment, saying: “He’s a competent coach and has a good record as a player in the pro league being one of the top defenders during his time.”
“We believe he can bring us to the top again,” said Romero, also the CEO and president of Harbour Centre.
Arejola said the Patriots are now undergoing massive build-up for the Jan. 14 opening, getting the services of several former PBA players like Marcy Arellano, Eddie Laure, Reed Juntilla and Jonathan Fernandez.
With the high level of competition in the upcoming tournament, Capacio, one of Norman Black’s assistants in the team seeking to retain its SEA Games crown, said the team needs to work doubly hard to get another crack at the championship.
“First, I would like to thank the team owners for their trust and confidence in giving me this new role, but we will have to work as a team to achieve our goal. This is a very challenging task,” said Capacio.
Source: The Philippine Star
