By REYNALD MAGALLON
Phoenix has formally named former Converge assistant coach and current College of St. Benilde mentor Charles Tiu as its new head coach, taking over the post vacated by Willy Wilson.
The Fuel Masters announced the appointment of Tiu on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
“After officially accepting the offer last Monday, Coach Charles begins the road to Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup tomorrow,” said the team in its post.
Tiu, through a post on his official X account, expressed excitement for the new role though he insisted that he will remain with the Blazers in the NCAA.
PBA and NCAA rules, however, do not allow coaches to be the head coach both in the pros and in the collegiate level at the same time.
“Truly excited and humbled to be joining the Phoenix Fuel Masters, but not leaving Benilde at all. I repeat, there is no Benilde Exit,” Tiu insisted.
“I intend to coach both teams, and whatever “title/position” is irrelevant to me,” he added, hinting at possibly relinquishing his head coach title though he would remain calling the shots for CSB.
With big-name imports at his disposal, Tiu guided Mighty Sports to the championship in the 2019 William Jones Cup in Taiwan apart from steering SGA to the 2020 Dubai Invitational Championship.
With Phoenix, Tiu is taking over a struggling yet promising line up built around veteran Jason Perkins and young guns Kai Ballungay, Ricci Rivero and Tyler Tio.
The Fuel Masters finished with a 3-8 record in the Philippine Cup.
