Ariel Vanguardia, Glenn Capacio head list of Kia's possible PBA coaching staff

Ariel Vanguardia and Glenn Capacio loom as possible members of Kia Motors’ coaching staff in its PBA season debut.

Sources told Spin.ph that both Vanguardia and Capacio are expected to be interviewed by the company soon, as the team is in the process of forming a competent staff that will work hand-in-hand with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

The names of the two cropped up just days after Pacquiao bared that he is assuming the role of playing coach of Kia, when it begins competing in the PBA as one of three expansion teams in the league’s 40th season this October.

Team management though, appears to be having second thoughts about allowing Pacquiao to become playing-coach and is now considering having the boxing legend assume the head coach job on a full-time basis, surrounded by a capable staff.

Vanguardia is currently the head coach of Westports Malaysia Dragons in the Asean Basketball League (ABL). He emerged as candidate after applying for the job, according to the source.

His last coaching stint in the country was with Jose Rizal University in the NCAA, where he led the Heavy Bombers to the Final Four in all of his four seasons with the school from 2006 to 2009.

Under Vanguardia, the Heavy Bombers were led by players John Wilson, Marvin Hayes, James Sena, among others. Those three are now in the PBA.

Capacio, on the other hand, also coached in the ABL with the Philippine Patriots in 2012, before taking on the role as the first-ever head coach of the GlobalPort Batang Pier the following year n the PBA.

He also called the shots for Far Eastern University in the UAAP and is currently an assistant coach of Lyceum in the NCAA.

A source said Pacquiao himself personally called up Capacio to ask him if he was interested in coming on board with Kia. - Reuben Terrado, SPIN