Agustin can't coach Beermen just yet -- Salud

San Miguel Beer mentor Ato Agustin cannot coach the Beermen until after San Sebastian’s campaign in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Agustin is also the head coach of the Stags, who are still pursuing their title-retention bid in the country’s oldest collegiate tournament. Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Chito Salud confirmed this to GMANews.TV a day before the Beermen’s debut this season against the Air21 Express. “I wrote the San Miguel management and told them about the situation," said Salud in a telephone interview. “Since Ato Agustin is listed as the head coach of San Miguel, that means he cannot coach in any other leagues."

But San Miguel, according to Salud, replied to the Commissioner’s letter and informed them that Gee Abanilla, one of the assistant coaches of the squad, will handle the Beermen temporarily until after Agustin’s commitment with the Stags is over. “Let me clarify that Agustin cannot coach in any other league once he starts coaching San Miguel Beer. In the case of Ato, he hasn’t coached a regular game for the Beermen as their head coach, that’s why he’s still coaching in the NCAA," added Salud. Last season, Agustin, one of the 25 Greatest Players of the PBA and a former league MVP, called the shots for the Beermen for several games of the elimination stage of the Fiesta Conference. But Agustin’s function with the squad at that time was as an assistant coach to Siot Tanquingcen, who is now back with Barangay Ginebra as a deputy of Jong Uichico. Sonny Barrios, then the commissioner of the PBA, said that the Beermen didn’t violate the rules as Tanquingcen was on the bench when Agustin was calling the shots for the Beermen. Abanilla, who also coached the Beermen in several games last season, will handle the team against the Express. Serving as a perfect backdrop to the Beermen-Express match is the coaching duel between Abanilla and Yeng Guiao. Abanilla served as assistant coach to Guiao for several years before the long-time deputy moved to the Beermen’s camp in 2008. - KY, GMANews.TV