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| Charles Tiu insisted that he will still coach CSB even if he is now Phoenix's new head coach. NCAA (file photo) |
MANILA--Even though he has already been announced as Phoenix's new head coach, Charles Tiu reiterated that he is not leaving the College of St. Benilde.
In a tweet on Tuesday, barely an hour after the Fuel Masters confirmed the development, Tiu said that he remains a part of the Blazers' coaching staff.
"(I'm) truly excited and humbled to be joining the Phoenix Fuel Masters, but (I'm) not leaving Benilde at all. I repeat, there is no Benilde exit," Tiu said.
Based on an agreement between the PBA and the NCAA, a coach cannot be a head coach in both leagues at the same time.
With Phoenix giving him the head coach tag, Tiu needs to vacate his spot as CSB's chief tactician, but he further said that he will be coaching both teams no matter what.
"I intend to coach both teams, and whatever 'title/position' is irrelevant to me," his tweet concluded.
The likelihood is that Tiu will be reassigned as the Blazers' active consultant, a role that some PBA teams have given to foreign coaches who join their coaching staff.
Due to a longstanding Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines ruling disallowing teams from hiring foreigners as head coaches, the PBA clubs tend to sign the said mentors for the active consultant spot while actually handing them the head coaching chores almost all the time.
All signs are pointing to TY Tang returning as CSB's head coach, a post he last held from 2016-2021 before letting Tiu take over.
With his pronouncement, however, it is expected that Tiu will still coach the team despite the active consultant tag.
Meanwhile, Tiu clarified that he did not directly deny initial rumors of the now confirmed Fuel Masters entry in his previous tweet regarding his intent to stay with the Blazers.
Responding to a fan, he said that he did not even directly name Phoenix in the said tweet.
"Wala naman ako dineny about Phoenix, nor mention about Phoenix. Sabi ko lang, I will stay in Benilde and coach them this year. And I intend to do so," Tiu said in another tweet.
The previous tweet came moments after initial reports surfaced about the said move, which made many fans assume that Tiu was denying the rumor.
However, an insider confirmed that there was indeed a talk between him and the Fuel Masters management a few days before the reports came.
