Florendo “Renren” Ritualo Jr. is getting ready to handle the La Salle Greenhills Greenies this month.
The retired Philippine Basketball Association standout said the lessons he learned, while playing under the guidance of the Pumaren brothers, Franz and Dindo, will help the new Greenies be in contention for their second junior cage plum.
The Greenies won their first National Collegiate Athletic Association junior cage title back in Season 93, five years ago, under coach Marvin Bienvenida.
They took runner-up honors to the Malayan High School Red Robins in 2018 and lost to the San Beda Red Cubs in the Final Four the following year.
“I’m just taking care of a few things. I will be taking care of this team this August,” said the 43-year-old Ritualo in an interview with the Manila Standard.
Ritualo will be coaching a squad for the first time.
Since retiring in 2014 following a four-year stint with Shopinas, Ritualo came aboard as assistant coach to Franz Pumaren when he handled the Adamson Falcons from 2015 to 2022.
Coaching a team wasn’t an immediate plan for Ritualo. But he said yes when the opportunity came.
“To be honest, this wasn’t the plan. I wanted to serve La Salle, but not immediately get a head-coaching job. Pero nagkataon lang (that he got an offer),” said Ritualo, who added that playing for the Green Archers from 1997 to 2001 under Franz Pumaren gave him some insights on handling teams and players.
And it was his time with his former coach that he was able to get some knowledge with the Falcons as an assistant coach.