by Waylon Galvez
Blackwater management is giving longtime assistant coach Aries Dimaunahan a shot at being the mentor of the Elite starting next PBA conference.
Aris Dimaunahan (MB file photo | Ali Vicoy)No less than Blackwater boss Dioceldo Sy made the confirmation as the franchise made Dimaunahan its interim coach, replacing Bong Ramos at the helm. Dimaunahan, a former PBA player, will start his stint as chief bench tactician of the Elite in the second conference Commissioner’s Cup.
“Yes Aries is our interim coach,” said Sy in a text message to Manila Bulletin Tuesday night.
“We’re giving him a break,” added Sy.
Blackwater management made the change following the team’s dismal campaign in the season opening Philippine Cup where it finished with a 2-9 record. They were the first team to get booted out of the quarterfinal playoff race.
Sy, despite trading franchise player JP Erram to NLEX prior to the season, as well as Paul Zamar to San Miguel Beer and John Pinto to Phoenix Pulse Fuel (the latter now with Meralco) in separate deals, had high hopes with the remaining core intact plus the addition of top rookies.
The team got in the NLEX trade Paul Desiderio and Abu Tratter - the fourth and seventh picks in the Draft - as well as its own pick Diego Dario.
The Elite also selected Fil-Am Bobby Ray Parks with the No. 2 overall pick in the last PBA Draft. Parks Jr. has yet to officially play his first PBA game as he is still ALAB Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).
Ramos took over early in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup replacing Leo Isaac, the team’s first mentor when the team entered the pro league in 2014.
As for Dimaunahan, he entered the PBA in 2002 as the 26th overall pick of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Draft. He also played for the now defunct team Air21, Coca-Cola and Red Bull. He also suited up with Alaska in 2011, his final year in the league.
Dimaunahan also played for San Miguel Beermen in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) from 2011 to 2013. He retired after that and turned to coaching as part of the Blackwater Elite.
Dimaunahan will be assisted by deputy coaches Bogs Adornado, a three-time PBA Most Valuable Player, and Rommel Adducul. Alternate governor Ariel Vanguardia will be the team's consultant.
Adornado and Adducul joined Blackwater in the Philippine Cup while Vanguardia came in during the Commissioner's Cup of last season.