FROM his infamous participation in a brawl against the coach of a women’s collegiate volleyball team two years ago, Frankie Lim is now at the helm of the most popular basketball team in the land.
No less than San Miguel Corp. (SMC) top honcho Ramon S. Ang confirmed the appointment of Lim as the new head coach of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Internet reports on Tuesday afternoon disclosed that Lim will take over Ato Agustin after the Kings made another disappointing performance in the Commissioner’s Cup, where they lost to top seed Rain or Shine in a controversial quarterfinal duel.
Lim’s appointment will be made official on Monday, when the team resumes its training for the season-ending Governors’ Cup set to kick off on May 5.
After being included in the coaching staff as one of Agustin’s assistants prior the start of the conference, Lim now carries the biggest burden to satisfy the legions of fans of Ginebra, which last won the 2008 Governors’ Cup under Jong Uichico, who is now with Talk ‘N Text.
Lim is no stranger to success. He led San Beda College to four titles in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
But his stint with the Red Lions was cut short when he was slapped a two-year ban by the NCAA Management Committee in March 2012 for his role in a melee that also involved San Sebastian College women’ volleyball coach Roger Gorayeb, who was also given a two-year banishment by the league.
The brawl was sparked by a racial slur made by the Stags volleyball players aimed at Red Lions center Ola Adeogun.
Lim will be Ginebra’s third coach in the three-conference season. Having a new coach in each conference is not new to the Kings—in 2012, Ginebra had four head coaches—Uichico and Siot Tanquingcen in the Philippine Cup, Alfrancis Chua in the Commissioner’s Cup and Agustin in the Governors’ Cup.
The Kings, meanwhile, sent seldom-used Dylan Ababou and James Forrester to Barako Bull for the Energy’s first-round pick in 2015.
There are also reports that Ginebra is looking to trade LA Tenorio and Chris Ellis for players that will fit Lim’s system.