Johnedel Cardel thankful to GlobalPort for first coaching win in PBA

Johnedel Cardel coached GlobalPort to victory. KC Cruz

A new face called the shots for GlobalPort in the team's last game of the Commissioner's Cup against Phoenix on Friday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

In a surprise move, assistant team manager Johnedel Cardel took the reins from head coach Pido Jarencio and assistant coach Eric Gonzales under the orders of Batang Pier owner Mikee Romero.

Cardel led the Batang Pier to a 125-118 victory against the Fuel Masters, marking his first victory in the PBA as a head coach.

"First time kong mag-coach ng PBA. Hindi ko in-expect na ako hahawak," said Cardel, who spoke to the media in the press room after the game.

The manager said Jarencio was unable to coach due to gout, while Gonzales had been busy handling the D-League team Phoenix Accelerators.

Cardel said he thanked Romero via text message for giving him the opportunity after team governor Erick Arejola informed him of his appointment as the coach in charge of GlobalPort's final game.

He also thanked the players, especially Terrence Romeo and Billy Mamaril, and asked them to play their best to give him his first win as a coach in the league.

"Sabi ko salamat sa panalong 'to. Hindi ko makakalimutan 'to," said Cardel, who played five season PBA for five years with Alaska, Sta. Lucia, and Shell.

He denied, however, that he was put under interim head coach status and said that the Batang Pier franchise simply shuffled the coaching staff for the game.

Arejola also confirmed that no coaching changes are in place at the moment.

Last year, Jarencio was replaced by his deputy Eric Gonzales as the GlobalPort coach mid-season before getting reinstated in the Governor's Cup. —JST, GMA News