After it was announced that LA Tenorio will be taking charge at Magnolia in lieu of Chito Victolero, news report reveal that another coaching change is being considered. This report was fueled by a cryptic post from sports insider Snow Badua.
Details point not to the perennial losing teams, but to a more competitive team, which know that a ballclub's hopes of challenging the TNT-SMB-Ginebra triopoly can only go as far as their head coach can take them.
The blind item of Badua hints at a team potentially hiring a "choker coach," described as someone "fired by teams from the black side and from Sampaloc." Badua's playful challenge to fans to "hulaan nyo na lang ano ang team at sino ang shungs na coach" has sparked a flurry of online deciphering, and it's certainly got the basketball world talking.
The riddle continues, mentioning that the "fans are still reeling from the loss of a streak shooter who is now doing wonders for his new team." This final clue is arguably the most telling.
The consensus among many fans points to the Converge FiberXers as the team in question, and Ariel Vanguardia as the "choker coach." The current coach of Converge is Franco Atienza.
"Black side": This phrase often colloquially refers to Blackwater Bossing, a team Vanguardia coached as interim from 2021-2023. His tenure there was largely unsuccessful, including a winless campaign in the 2021 Philippine Cup.
"Sampaloc": This points to Manila Batang Sampaloc (now Manila Batang Quiapo) in the MPBL, where Ariel Vanguardia is currently the head coach. This fits the description of a coach having been with teams in these specific locations.
"Fired by teams": Vanguardia has had stints with Phoenix Fuel Masters and Blackwater in the PBA, both of which saw him eventually replaced as head coach.
"Fans are still reeling from the loss of a streak shooter who is now doing wonders for his new team": This clue strongly points to Jordan Heading. Heading was a "streak shooter" who was part of Converge and was recently traded to TNT Tropang Giga. He has indeed been "doing wonders" for TNT, most notably scoring a career-high 29 points in their semifinal clincher against Rain or Shine. The FiberXers' fanbase is undoubtedly still feeling the sting of losing him, especially given his immediate impact on a championship-bound team.
Given these pieces, the fit for Converge hiring Ariel Vanguardia is remarkably strong. Vanguardia is a known quantity in Philippine basketball, with a history of coaching in both the PBA and MPBL.
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