FORMER San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags head coach Tony Tan claimed that disagreements over his contract and coaching responsibilities contributed to his falling out with the school administration.
Tan said several versions of his agreement were discussed before the parties eventually signed a memorandum of agreement on January 10, but he claimed he did not receive a copy of the document until after he had already returned to Canada.
“From the beginning, when we signed the contract, we had a bunch of contracts that had been revised,” Tan said in an interview with Abante Sports Now. “And so when we signed and we’ve been asking for that copy. And that copy hasn’t came.”
Tan said the copy he eventually received was sent through text and, according to him, was neither notarized nor the version that had been agreed upon.
“The only time that copy came was I was already in Canada on the 5th,” Tan said. “When we looked at it, that contract, it wasn’t even notarized. And also it was the wrong one that we actually agreed on of that MOA (memorandum of agreement).”
Tan also claimed that his responsibilities changed without prior consultation.
He said he initially understood that he would oversee both the junior and senior programs but was surprised when a new coach was introduced for the junior team after he returned from Canada.
“The day that I came straight to the school, coming from the airport. And next thing you know, the priest introduced the new head coach for the junior. And without even me knowing, or even talked about it, any communication.”
Tan said the development prompted discussions about revising his agreement so he would concentrate solely on the senior team.
However, he claimed that the parties later disagreed over the financial obligations attached to the revised arrangement.
“And then the amount, we didn’t agree,” he revealed.
According to Tan, the administration subsequently told him that the senior program should carry a higher financial obligation, which he said meant an additional P1 million.
“The senior should be more than the junior. You know, so there’s extra one million that I have to come up with,” Tan said.
Tan said repeated delays in finalizing the revised agreement eventually became a major source of frustration.
“At the same time, during February, it was all good.:And then the priest kept saying, okay, next Monday, next Tuesday. I got all those texts and then delay, delay all the time.”
By May, Tan said his health had begun deteriorating amid what he described as the stress surrounding the situation.
He also claimed that rumors about his finances and his life in Canada were circulated by people connected to the team.
Tan specifically denied claims that he had gone bankrupt or fled Canada because of financial problems.
“Canada loves me. I, you know, I give enough tax to Canada with my business. So, you know, those are a lie. And I’m doing very well in my business here.”
Tan also addressed his relationship with current Stags head coach Rodney Santos, whom he confirmed was the former PBA player now handling the team.
“Yes. I’ve been paying him monthly, and he doesn’t follow my instruction. He does his own thing, so why am I paying him for it?”
Tan further claimed Santos had given conflicting accounts about their relationship.
“And he tells everybody he’s the one that brought me in. And then after that, he tells everybody that he doesn’t know me.”
Santos’ side and the San Sebastian administration were not included in Tan’s account of the dispute.
Tan said he wants an apology over what he described as false statements about him and his coaching tenure.
“I want them to apologize,” Tan inisted.
He also said he wanted the controversy resolved professionally, emphasizing that his primary concern was the reputation he built during his career.
“Please don’t make a bad name about myself that, you know, about my health, about my life. It’s not professional,” he concluded. (Adrian Co)
