‘Work to be completed’ as Toroman plans new system for Converge

Rajko Toroman insists there’s a number of work forward for Converge after being tapped by administration to assist out interim coach Franco Atienza as an lively marketing consultant going into the PBA season which begins in two weeks.

“It’s actually a troublesome job. It’s not simple,” the unique Gilas Pilipinas coach stated after confirming his appointment in a radio-television interview Saturday on this system of his former nationwide workforce boss, Noli Eala.

The teaching shakeup on the FiberXers’ camp got here days after parting methods with Aldin Ayo, who dealt with the squad with combined outcomes during the last two seasons.

Following the departure of Ayo and his high lieutenant McJour Luib, Converge tapped assistant coach Atienza to deal with the function on an interim foundation.

Atienza instructed The Inquirer shortly earlier than reviews of Toroman’s entry surfaced that he was shocked to have been given the nod.

“It wasn’t like I used to be anticipating it. It’s such as you had been blindsided,” Atienza stated. “However each time administration expresses that belief in you, even when it’s simply in an interim capability—and the timeline is not less than for this convention—you wish to put your greatest foot ahead.”

Profession assistant

Atienza has been an assistant for many of his teaching profession, specifically within the collegiate ranks for Jose Rizal College, Far Japanese College and San Sebastian and with Alaska within the PBA. Converge absorbed Atienza when the FiberXers took over the Aces franchise in 2022.

Now, Atienza will work with Toroman in scrambling a plan to place Converge able to rebound from a dismal 2023-24 season.

Toroman stated that Charles Tiu, who lately coached Robust Group Athletics (SGA) to the William Jones Cup title in Taiwan, will be a part of the FiberXers employees. Tiu presently handles School of St. Benilde within the NCAA.

“Me, Coach Charles and Coach Franco will attempt to put some new philosophies and a brand new system of enjoying offense and protection,” Toroman stated within the sports activities program. “Crucial factor now could be to be affected person.”

Toroman has been working carefully with Tiu at SGA and St. Benilde, each backed by the Lao household, which can also be tied up with Converge as Jacob Lao serves as workforce supervisor.

Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, who owns the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League’s (MPBL) Pampanga Large Lanterns, additionally has an unspecified function with the FiberXers, who three weeks earlier chosen his Large Lanterns participant Justine Baltazar as the highest choose within the PBA Rookie Draft.

Toroman was seen serving to out the Large Lanterns of their run-up to final 12 months’s MPBL championship.

“They known as me and stated that it’s time to assist Converge,” stated Toroman, who had PBA consultancy roles up to now with San Miguel Beer (then Petron) and the defunct Barako Bull.