New FEU head coach Tamaraws Denok Miranda. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Denok Miranda vows to show his identity as a ‘hard-working’ player and uphold the defence after being appointed as the new head coach of Far Eastern University for the tournament. UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball.
Miranda’s career has gone completely as former Tamaraw has been appointed to call the photos for his alma mater, replacing Olsen Racela, who ran the team from 2017 to 2022.
The 40-year-old coach may be a rookie coach among all the other UAAP teams but expect him to share his seasoned experience as a player who has won two championships with FEU and has a 12-year PBA career.
Miranda, who led Baby Tamaraws to a 116-80 win over the University of the East in the UAAP junior basketball tournament, said: “Siyempre magilling ako diyan tapos ang makakalaban natin mga rookie coach great coach.” .
“Siguro ang masasabi ko lang kilala niyo naman yung identity ko is a player siguro ang [madadala] It’s not hard work.
(As a rookie coach, I will have to face good and experienced coaches in UAAP. But everyone knows my identity when I was a player, I was a caretaker. only.)
EXPERIENCE
FILE – The time Denok Miranda joined the PBA with TNT. Tristan Tamayo’s photo/INQUIRER.net
Miranda won two championships in the UAAP with Arwind Santos and Jeff Chan in 2003 and 2004 before being placed third overall by Coca-Cola in 2005. He won two PBA championships with Sta. Lucia in the 2007–08 season and with Petron in the 2011 Governors Cup, while also playing for Barako Bull, Global Port, TNT and his last team Blackwater from 2016-2017.
“I will bring my experience from the PBA, playing for different coaches. I will share it with these young players because I already have experience playing as a starter, role player and substitute. I know how all the players are feeling,” he said in Filipino.
Tamaraws will begin training with Miranda as head coach on Friday. The new FEU coach shared that he spoke with 10 team holders including Cholo Anonuevo, Royce Alforque and Xyrus Torres.
Miranda, who has been an assistant coach of the FEU since 2018 and coaches Binan City in the Maharlika Pilipinas . Basketball Tournamentadmits getting his team back to the Quarterfinals won’t be a walk in the park.
But he is guaranteed to bring enthusiasm to the FEU community, looking to turn the Tamaraws into a defensive team.
“[Bringing the team back to the] Four finals will not be easy. But I can assure the community of a new FEU team, especially in terms of defence. We will improve ourselves,” Miranda said. “Our culture has been known for being defensive. It will be a more interesting FEU. You know my identity as a player, I will share that with my team.”
The FEU’s incoming rookie coach knows he’s not alone in lifting the Tamaraws from seventh in Season 85 with a 5-9 record that sends them out of the Finals for the first time since 2012. The team is led by mentor Johnny Abarrientos and assistant coaches Albano, Eric Gonzales, Vic Pablo, Jonathan De Guzman and Mark Isip.
“I am very grateful and honored that the FEU trusted me to be the head coach. But I won’t be alone as my fellow coaches will be there to guide me and they have provided defensive and offensive suggestions. We’ll balance everyone’s input,” Miranda said.
Although he is set to introduce some changes to the team’s system, Miranda promises to continue embracing the culture of Tamaraws that forged him as a player nearly two decades ago.
“The culture of FEU is unique. We are less famous but we bring a lot of pride.” he say.
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