Vanguardia Coach of The Year ng ABL

NAPILI ang Pinoy coach ng Westports Malaysia Dragons na si Ariel Vanguardia bilang Coach of the Year ng ASEAN Basketball League.

Nakuha ni Vanguardia ang parangal pagkatapos na dalhin niya ang Dragons sa finals ng ABL ngayong season na ito pagkatapos na manguna sila sa regular season na may 15 panalo at limang talo.

“This award is special because I know my fellow ABL coaches were the ones who voted. This is for all of our coaching battles including those with the late coach Jason Rabedeaux. This is also for my very supportive family back home,” wika ni Vanguardia na nagsimulang hawakan ang Dragons noong 2011.

“I feel so blessed to be coaching the KL Dragons. The warmth and love makes me feel at home here. I would like to thank my team owners Boss Ruben, Dato’ Robin and Dato’ Wira and to General Manager Yakub for the trust and confidence. They deserved this award more. I share this to my hardworking coaching staff and especially to my players this year that I enjoyed coaching the most.”

Sa ngayon ay pinaghahandaan ni Vanguardia ang kanyang koponan sa best-of-three finals ng ABL kontra Hi Tech Bangkok City na magsisimula sa Sabado, Nobyembre 8.

Bago siya pumunta sa ABL ay hinawakan ni Vanguardia ang Toyota Otis ng Philippine Basketball League at Jose Rizal University ng NCAA.

Naging assistant coach din siya ng Manila Metrostars ng Metropolitan Basketball Association at ang Talk n Text sa PBA.

Walang koponan mula sa Pilipinas sa ABL ngayon dahil parehong nasa PBA na ang San Miguel Beermen at Globalport Batang Pier (dating Philippine Patriots). (James Ty III)