Ex-PBA ward named new B-Meg coach

THE B-Meg Llamados will have a new coach when the 37th PBA Philippine Cup opens on Oct. 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Richard del Rosario, a former PBA player, was named as the team’s acting head coach, replacing Jorge Gallent, who slides down as assistant coach.

Del Rosario, who was one of Gallent’s assistant coaches in the previous season, will handle the team in an acting capacity until he finishes his commitment at the St. Benilde Blazers where is the current head coach.

Del Rosario’s appointment was the recent move made among the San Miguel Corp.-owned teams.

Siot Tanquingcen was recently named co-head coach with Jong Uichico at Barangay Ginebra. There were also reports that Uichico was on his way to the B-Meg camp to replace Gallent.

Also, rumors had it that Alaska head coach Tim Cone was considered for the B-Meg head coaching job after the American tactician opted out of the last two years of his contract.

The Alaska camp has denied the rumors and is set to hold a press conference today to clear the issue.

“He was with us in the Rookie Draft (last Sunday, on the eve of the board members’ departure for Hong Kong),” Trillo said. “What I know is that he will be there tomorrow (today) for the first day of practice of our rookies.”

Cone, who has coached Alaska in all his 22 PBA years and won 13 championships with the Aces, including a rare Grand Slam in 1996, has reportedly opted out of the last two years of his new pact with the Uytengsu franchise.

B-Meg didn’t make the playoff in the previous conference after its lineup was crippled by injuries. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA