San Miguel Corp. sports director and Barangay Ginebra PBA governor Alfrancis Chua announced that he will not be able to reprise his role as Gilas team manager due to family commitments and a personal project for a new business. Chua assured, however, that he will continue to support the national squad in any way possible and be in the stands as Gilas’ No. 1 cheerleader. Chua played a critical role in Gilas’ victory at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last October, which ended the Philippines’ 61-year wait for a gold medal in men’s basketball. He was hailed for his hands-on style, attention to detail, personal care, fighting spirit, and basketball wisdom. Chua’s efforts behind the scenes went unpublicized, but insiders attested to the extra mile he took in attending to every player’s and coach’s needs. Since taking over as San Miguel Corp. sports director, Chua has guided San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, and Magnolia to a total of six semifinals and 25 finals in 27 conferences.
