Cariaso axed; Agustin back for Kings

BARANGAY Ginebra, the PBA’s tallest team that failed to live up to expectations under Jeffrey Cariaso and his “Triangle Offense,” will have a new coach when the Gin Kings report for practice today at PCF gym in Pasig.

Ato Agustin, who was unceremoniously demoted to assistant when Cariaso was signed two conferences ago, gets another chance at steering the Gin Kings, a development the club will announce formally today.

“It’s about finding the right combination, the right harmony between the coach and the players,” San Miguel Corp. head of basketball operations Robert Non said yesterday.

What comes as a surprise is the appointment of former San Beda coach and Talk ‘N Text team manager Frankie Lim as Agustin’s chief deputy.

Cariaso is expected to go back to Purefoods.

Ginebra has been without a championship since 2008, when it won the 2008 Commissioner’s Cup under Jong Uichico, who now calls the shots for Talk ‘N Text.

The Kings, undisputedly the league’s biggest draw, have eight league titles.

After Uichico left, Agustin, Alfrancis Chua, Siot Tanquingcen and Cariaso have had tenures calling the shots.

It was only under Chua’s watch that the Kings were able to make a title series appearance, doing so in the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup where Ginebra was swept by Alaska and Robert Dozier in the best-of-five series.

Cariaso was expected to maximize the talent of Ginebra’s tall and young frontline made up of 7-footer Greg Slaughter and 6-9 Japeth Aguilar and its loaded roster of talented guards led by Mark Caguioa and LA Tenorio.

Cariaso, part of Alaska’s Grand Slam squad under Tim Cone in 1996, piloted the Kings to sixth place in the Governors’ Cup last year and to fifth spot in the Philippine Cup.