Helterbrand declines Ginebra coaching offer

Jayjay Helterbrand. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

After deciding to step away from the game, Jayjay Helterbrand was firm in his stand that he won’t be in the sidelines anytime soon.

The newly retired playmaker shared that he was already offered by the Ginebra brass of a spot in coach Tim Cone’s staff, but politely turned down the offer.

“Coach Tim and the Ginebra management offered me an assistant coaching spot on the team already, but I kindly declined it for now, because I really want to spend more time with my family,” he said Friday in the Ginebra victory party at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Helterbrand has put an end to an illustrious 17-year career where he won six championships and was even named as the 2009 PBA Most Valuable Player.

With his playing career over, the 41-year-old looks forward to spending the next few months with his family in the United States.

“Most of my family is in the States, so I’m going back and forth there,” he said.

Helterbrand, though, isn’t closing his doors on taking the Ginebra coaching job sometime soon.

“In the future — and I don’t know when — but if it’s still available and if they’re still going to allow me, I’d definitely want to come back,” he said.