Terrafirma has appointed Ronald Tubid as head coach for the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) 50th season, the team announced Thursday, taking on the head coaching role after the team’s planned sale to Starhorse and the Zamboanga Valientes did not push through.
Tubid, who previously served as team manager and assistant coach, admitted the Dyip are still piecing their roster together, with only five players under contract. Still, he expressed determination to make the most of the team’s assets, particularly with the PBA Rookie Draft fast approaching.
“Di naman tayo sasali sa PBA kung ayaw natin manalo,” Tubid said during Thursday’s Draft Combine in Pasig. “For me, if there’s a chance to get solid players, we hope to maximize whatever we have and try our best to make the playoffs,”
Terrafirma owns the top pick in Sunday’s draft after managing just three wins last season. Among the prospects expected to go early are Juan Gomez de Liano, Jason Brickman, Dalph Panopio, Will Gozum, and Geo Chiu. However, the Dyip’s history of trading away young talent leaves open the possibility of the No. 1 pick being dealt in the future.
The franchise recently traded the rights of returning player Javi Gomez de Liano to Magnolia in exchange for Jerrick Ahanmisi and a second-round draft pick. Tubid noted that while the team has prepared a shortlist of potential draftees, management remains undecided on their final choice.
