It looks like Jeff Cariaso’s stint with Converge is one and done.
A reliable Daily Tribune source revealed that Cariaso had been let go by the FiberXers following their disastrous performance in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.
The source, a prominent team insider, said he believes that Cariaso was already handed the pink slip and would not be around in the Commissioner’s Cup in October.
“I believe so,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity pending the team’s official announcement.
“You have to ask (Converge governor Chito) Mr. Salud. I believe that he had already been let go.”
The 49-year-old tactician has been a mainstay in the bench since getting tapped by Alaska in 2015.
He formally took the coaching saddle when former Aces mentor Alex Compton stepped down in 2019.
When Converge bought the Alaska franchise in March, Cariaso was retained together with key pieces like Jeron Teng, Maverick Ahanmisi, Allyn Bulanadi and RK Ilagan.
He had the chance to rebuild the franchise by acquiring young big men in Justin Arana, Jeo Ambohot, Tyrus Hill and Kurt Lojera in the 2022 Annual Rookie Draft, raising expectations that the could be the dark horse in the season-opening conference.
But it didn’t happen.
Although the franchise showed a lot of promise, it still struggled in its maiden season as it finished seventh with a 5-6 win-loss record.
The FiberXers failed to make it past the quarterfinals as reigning champion TNT Tropang Giga crushed them, 116-95, in their playoff encounter on 27 July.
