After five conferences, Blackwater has decided not to renew the contract of interim head coach Ariel Vanguardia.
Bossing team owner Dioceldo Sy confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times.
“We did not part ways with Coach Ariel as he was appointed on an interim basis for two years,” said Sy.
During his stint with Blackwater, Vanguardia – who also served as alternate governor of the team – accumulated a horrid 10-46 record.
Blackwater only made the playoffs once under Vanguardia, falling to San Miguel in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Philippine Cup.
“We appreciate his help while we were searching for one. We are in deep negotiations now,” said Sy.
Looking for a new face to steer the struggling franchise, set to take over the post is former Alaska head coach Jeffrey Cariaso, according to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation.
Cariaso’s last coaching stint in the PBA was back in the 2022 Philippine Cup with Converge.
In his sole season with the FiberXers, he steered the team to a 5-6 record for seventh seed. Converge lost to TNT in the quarterfinals, 116-95, in what ended up being his last game with the franchise.
His contract was bought out after the conference that paved the way for the signing of Aldin Ayo.
Prior to going to Converge, Cariaso was the head coach of Alaska from 2019-2022.
