Ronald Tubid is embracing the challenge that comes along in handling one of the most thankless jobs in all of professional sports: head coaching.
The former PBA star is now embarking on a new chapter of his post-playing career after being handed the keys to Terrafirma to serve as its chief mentor.
“Excited na ma-testing ‘yung ability to coach,” he said during Day 1 of the league’s Season 50 Draft Combine at the Ynares Sports Arena, Thursday.
Tubid will be among the new head coaches entering the PBA’s golden season, along with LA Tenorio and Willy Wilson with Magnolia and Phoenix, respectively.
Coincidentally, the troika share a common denominator: all of them played for Ginebra once in their careers. That has added more excitement to the 43-year-old as he’s looking forward to going up against two of his contemporaries.
“This is our chance to [show] na pwede na kami sa PBA,” he said. “Pero nagkataon kasi na tatlo kami galing Ginebra. Ayun story dun. Excited to go up against them.
“We’ll see kung anong mangyayari. Paghahandaan namin.”
Photo by PBA Images
Tubid was appointed as the Dyip’s new head coach just last week, tasked to lead a franchise that chooses to carry on after talks of a sale with Junnie Navarro and the Zamboanga Valientes ‘bogged down’ last July.
While he knows how daunting the task is, the nine-time PBA champion plans to use the experiences he’s gained since joining the team — from serving as a team manager to being an assistant coach to then-acting head coach Raymond Tiongco.
Plus, of course, the time he spent as a player under numerous coaches, from Perry Ronquillo with Shell, to Jong Uichico with the Kings, and to Leo Austria with his last team in San Miguel Beer, just to name some.
“Hindi lang team manager, naging assistant coach din ako. This time siguro sistema ko,” he said. “How many coaches din naman na pinagdaanan ko — Coach Perry, Coach Leo, Coach Junel [Baculi]; sina Coach John [Cardel].
“Lahat ‘yun, naging coaches ko. Every coach na nadaanan ko may nakukuha akong lesson. Idadagdag pa namin sa sistema.”
Now, Tubid’s first mission is to help Terrafirma make the best decision in using its first overall pick in the draft proceedings set Sunday at SM Mall of Asia.
“Kaming coaching staff, kaming management, may mga names kami na ito lang … Hindi pa 100-percent, pero andun na kami,” he said.
“Desisyon na lang.”
#WATCH: NEW ROLE
New Terrafirma head coach Ronald Tubid talks about the Dyip’s plans for the upcoming #PBADraft 🏀
🎥 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/9NN4kIb32T
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 4, 2025
