Branislav joins Cocolife

FILE – Moro Brasnilav. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It didn’t take long for Moro Branislav to find a new home in the Philippine Superliga, with the Serbian coach snagging a two-year contract with rising squad Cocolife.

The Asset Managers’ top brass, Joshua Ylaya, said Branislav will be taking the reins from Kungfu Reyes on the Cocolife bench starting the 2018 season.

“Our goal in the first year was just be a contender, a dark horse,” said Ylaya. “I guess we’re already successful with that so we’re raising the bar by hiring a proven mentor in coach Moro.”

Cocolife made it to the semifinals during the recent Grand Prix, after placing fifth in the All Filipino.

Branislav cut ties with Foton after failing to win the franchise a conference title this season.

The Tornadoes lost in the semifinals despite a solid lineup that included local star Jaja Santiago and three Croatian imports including scoring machine Sara Klisura.

Klisura had scored 41 points in the recent Grand Prix, which stands as the all-time high in a single PSL game.

But Ylaya, who assembled for the Asset Managers top players from Ateneo and La Salle, said he’s not expecting a major shift overnight.

He said Branislav will be the tactician, while Reyes will play the role of a disciplinarian.

Branislav is also being considered for the national team, according to Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas acting president Peter Cayco.

Branislav had an extensive stint with in the European league before handling the PSL team in the 2016 Asian Women’s Club Championships.

That gig earned him a coaching job at Foton which won its second Grand Prix title last year with Branislav at the helm.

But over the weekend, he was released by the Tornadoes, who then acquired Rommel Abella to coach the team for the next season.