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| Rajko Toroman is now part of Converge's coaching staff. FIBA (file photo) |
TAGUIG—Serbian coach Rajko Toroman has been added to Converge's coaching staff, taking the role of active consultant.
This developed after the team parted ways with former head coach Aldin Ayo.
"It's a good feeling. After 11 years, I'm coming back to the PBA. It's exciting times as always to work here," the head coach of the original Gilas Pilipinas batch, said as he confirmed the development on Saturday at the Power and Play show hosted by former league commissioner Noli Eala.
Toroman's last PBA stint was also as an active consultant at the defunct Barako Bull camp back in 2013.
On how he got the FiberXers' active consultant job, Toroman said, "They called me and they said that we have to help now Converge."
While he is listed as the active consultant, the speculation is that he will actually play the role of head coach, which has been done by some teams in the past, even current title contenders like the San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang Giga, all the more that the designation given to coach Franco Atienza is "acting head coach".
It was also the case during Toroman's stint with the Energy before the club decided to let Bong Ramos do the head coaching job solely.
Toroman then revealed that Charles Tiu will also be part of the Converge coaching staff, although he did not divulge further about it.
"Now, he's an experienced and very talented. Our connection lasts at least 11 years," Toroman said on Tiu.
Both mentors co-coached Strong Group Athletics to Jones Cup glory, ruling the annual Taiwanese pocket tournament through an 8-0 sweep.
The likelihood is that Tiu, who is also College of St. Benilde's head coach, will be listed as one of the assistant coaches of Atienza.
A longstanding rule prohibits bench tacticians from having concurrent roles as head coaches for a PBA and collegiate team.
Tiu was an assistant coach for Norman Black with the Meralco Bolts during the 2021-2022 PBA season but left them to focus more on his Blazers' head coaching stint in the NCAA.
Toroman faces the daunting task of bringing Converge back to prominence after crashing to last place in the previous season's two conferences with only three wins to flaunt in total.
"It's a tough job. It's not easy," he further said.
The sure thing, according to Toroman, is that the team will move on from Ayo's "mayhem" system.
"I, Charles, and Coach Franco will try to put a new system of playing offensively and defensively. The most important thing now is the time and to be patient," Toroman further said, hinting that he does not expect his new team to be in championship conversations immediately.
As to how long he will stay as the FiberXers' active consultant remains a question as Toroman revealed that his "agreement" with SGA president Frank Lao to be part of his umbrella's coaching staff will only run until December, which will be somewhere in the middle of the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
However, Toroman said that he is willing to stay a little longer if needed.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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