Interim Converge head coach Franco Atienza is well aware of the challenges that come along with manning the team’s sidelines in the upcoming PBA wars.
The long-time deputy got thrusted into the role after the club parted ways with Aldin Ayo less than three weeks into Season 49, but is hardly worried as he has faith with his capabilities shaped over the course of an ongoing 18-year career.
“As a player and as a coach, when you start handling the ball, your North Star will be the PBA,” he said during the league’s Media Day recently. “If you’re a player, you want to be in the PBA. If you’re a coach, you want to be in the PBA.
“So, I’ve always lived up to that. And, I believe that I wouldn’t be here if I don’t think I’m ready,” added Atienza, a holdover from the Alaska franchise.
Atienza was part of Ayo’s coaching think-tank during the four conferences that the latter helmed the FiberXers, which saw them reach the quarterfinals in the first two before disappointing campaigns in the succeeding two.
The former college mentor was already looking forward to the new season, particularly in reuniting with no. 1 pick Justine Baltazar, until he and Converge deemed it best to go their separate ways, much to the shock of even the staff.
(C) PBA Images
“No one’s expecting that, but it is what it is. It happens. I mean, in our industry, hindi naman iba na ‘tong ganito,” said Atienza. “It was so sudden and kumbaga, in our industry, coaches are hired to be fired eh. So it’s out of our control.”
But the management’s marching order to Atienza and the team is simply to move forward and focus on what lies ahead, which, of course, is to compete, especially after accumulating a 3-19 win-loss record last season.
“We choose to move forward,” said Atienza, who’s also coached in high school and college for San Sebastian. “We have enough guys. We have enough good guys, we have a system in place, it’s just a matter of continuing it, maybe fine-tuning.
“From the management to the coaches, to the players, the instruction is to move forward and compete in this conference,” he furthered.
As for himself, Atienza is determined to repay the trust of the FiberXers management in handing him the keys, even though on an interim basis only.
He’s been to one too many battles especially with the now-defunct Aces, from being part of Coach Luigi Trillos’s staff that helped the club rule the 2013 Governors’ Cup, to the multiple bridesmaid finishes with Coach Alex Compton.
All that, he believes, has made him equipped enough to take on the role given to him, and so it’s all on him to prove the bosses right.
“Of course, to put it into context, it’s just an interim. But I just told them na I’ll do my best,” he said. “With the experience that I have, I go a long way back also. This is my 18th year coaching, and I think it’s my 13th year in the PBA.
“All those battles, you’d feel there would be a time that you’ll be at the helm, and I’m just glad that I was able to have it now,” he added.
“I will enjoy the ride. I will do my best. And I will not waste ‘yung trust na ibinigay ng management sa akin.”
