The Blueprint

A man with a plan
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

When Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team manager Alfrancis Chua threw a fit last season just weeks after steering the club to a surprise run at a PBA Commissioner’s Cup 1st runner up finish, it was met with a lot of surprise and apprehension from various camps.

Some circles reported that Chua’s then departure was brought about by the sudden, mid-season changes in his staff, others say it was the nagging player trade scenarios. Others say that Chua simply had enough of the top brass and how things were being run by some choice personnel.

Whatever it may be, there were a lot of compromises and concessions made which ultimately led to Chua’s return (and promotion) while also appearing to have “free hand” over team decisions (which is the role of a manager anyway) and how Ginebra would move forward as they slowly transition away from the storied “Mark Caguioa Era.”