By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Just three months into his retirement, Ranidel de Ocampo now rejoins TNT KaTropa not as a player but as part of the coaching staff.
TNT announced through team manager Gabby Cui that they will be acquiring the coaching prowess of de Ocampo.
Former Gilas Pilipinas and TNT coach Chot Reyes previously intimated that teams will line-up to tap de Ocampo’s basketball mind.
“Coach Ranidel brings us a wealth of championship experience and basketball knowledge that will definitely help our team reach our aspirations for another championship,” said Cui in a statement.
Weeks after the release of current Gilas program director coach Tab Baldwin, the TNT squad made the move to hire de Ocampo.
Team manager Cui, however, emphasized that they were already in talks months before the Baldwin issue.
De Ocampo was one of the key pieces to TNT’s historic dynasty from 2008-2017 where he won a total of six titles with the team, forming one of the best championship squads together with Jimmy Alapag, Larry Fonacier, Ali Peek, and Jayson Castro.
Under his belt, de Ocampo was a former two-time Finals MVP, a nine-time PBA All-Star, and was a key reserve during the 2013 FIBA Asia Men’s Championship roster that placed silver, helping the Philippines qualify for a World Cup appearance after a 36-year absence.
