Former Mandaluyong coach Mac Cuan becomes new Imus mentor

Mac Cuan poses with Lou Abad and Gerald Anderson.
By Dugout Philippines

MANILA - The Imus Khaleb Shawarma/GLC Bandera have announced the hiring of Mac Cuan as the team's new head coach for the on-going 2019-2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Lakan Season.

Part of the coaching staff of the 2017-18 ASEAN Basketball League champions San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas, Cuan brings to Imus a rich, decade-long coaching experience that would help transform Imus into a more competitive group.

"I have known Mac Cuan for 20 years. I have been with him in La Salle since 1999 and I have been a witness of his coaching career. He has been in the PBA; he has been a champion in the ASEAN Basketball League with Jimmy Alapag. I know his credentials and I know the person that he is. Makakasundo namin siya sa team, and he is someone who can help us get off this losing streak," said team manager Lou Abad.

Cuan will replace Buds Reyes, who has been relieved of his duties. Imus-Khaleb Shawarma/GLC went 1-3 with Reyes as head mentor.

Cuan started his basketball coaching career as an assistant for his alma mater De La Salle University. Making good progress, he joined the San Miguel Beermen ABL squad in 2013 under the late Bobby Ray Parks Sr. and Leo Austria.

Later on, Cuan named first assistant of the GlobalPort Batang Pier franchise in the PBA from 2014-2016, before assuming head coaching duties for Alab Pilipinas in 2016-2017.

He led Alab to a semifinals finish in that ABL season, before taking a step back to become a deputy for Jimmy Alapag the successive year. Cuan helped Alab win their first ABL title in 2018.

Cuan was also a former head coach of the Mandaluyong El Tigre team in the MPBL Datu Cup.

"I want us to be known as a defensive team. We should speed up the game. We will make the game faster and pressure. When I saw the team, I recognized it's a guard-heavy line-up. We a lot of fine backcourt players. What I want to do here is to run and get easy points in transition. On offense, we want to execute, to run, and take advantage of our speed," said Cuan.

Guard Gerald Anderson then said, "First of all, it's a new system. We will find out on Saturday initially if it is effective. My other teammates told me the past few practices have been great, and all I hear are good words. All of us are motivated and excited to win on Saturday."

Wing man Jojo Cunanan, a former member of the El Tigre, spoke highly of his mentor, saying Cuan could be instrumental to the start of a winning run.

"Siguro gaganda yung itatakbo ng team namin. The last time I played for coach McC, maganda yung start namin sa Mandaluyong. Six wins straight kami. Sana madala namin sa Imus yung mga ganitong klaseng panalo," said Cunanan.

Cuan will make his Imus-Khaleb Shawarma/GLC debut on Saturday when Imus hosts the Soccksargen Marlins at the Imus Sports Complex in Cavite.

Follow the site on Twitter: @DugoutPH