THE CEBU Landmasters-Bogo City are set to name their head coach sometime soon as the team’s owners, Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez and successful businessman Joe Soberano decide between current University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) head coach Jun Noel and former Cebu Landmasters-Mandaue chief Jun Tan.
According to Martinez, their first choice is Noel but the latter still has to clear things up with USJ-R before they can take the next step in their negotiations. For his part, Noel said that he is amenable to taking the coaching reins for the squad, a dream of his which has yet to come true in what has been a storied coaching career.
Noel, in an exclusive talk with Cebu Daily News, shared that he has longed to coach a commercial squad representing Cebu seeing as he hails from the Queen City of the South.
“Isn’t it ironic that the championships that I have won at the commercial level have always come at the expense of Cebu? For once, I would like to lead a Cebu team,” said the mild-mannered head coach.
Noel said that Martinez has broached to him the prospect of coaching his squad. Salary figures are also being negotiated but Noel said he must be able to sit down and talk with both Martinez and Soberano before he signs on.
“I want to be able to talk to the both of them first about goals and those things. Whether they just want to be competitive or they want to win a championship.”
But should plans with Noel break down, Tan is being eyed as the next best thing, said Martinez. The affable politician and sports patron bared that he was set to meet with Tan regarding the job yesterday. Tan has shared history with the Cebu Landmasters of Soberano having led the team to several titles in the Liga Pilipinas several years ago.
CDN was able to contact Soberano who said that a head coach for his team will be named very soon.