"If they don't want me to coach, fine. Then I won't," said Jacobs in a telephone interview. "One thing I'd like to make clear is that I'm not soliciting the job. It's not like I've been going around asking for it. It's not something I'm really working for." SMB team manager and new PBA chairman Nazario Avendano has already announced the imminent appointment of Jacobs, coach of the triumphant RP Team in the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) 13 years ago.

"If things worked out well, it is more likely I will accept (the offer). But as of now, there are only plans and nothing is formal yet," said Jacobs. Obviously hurt by reports coming from the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines headed by former PBA coach Yeng Guiao, Jacobs said: "I wouldn't want to disrupt the basketball scene here. If my appointment would be a disruption, then I won't coach." "If they don't think my contribution amounts to anything at all, if they think I have not given enough to this country, its players and fellow coaches, so be it. If they think my donation to basketball in this country is not worth anything, then it is not worth anything," Jacobs said. "If the coaches association don't want me to coach, I won't. It's their conscience against mine and I don't have any problems with that. I'm helping the team get through a difficult situation right now and that's what I'm focused on." -EDGARD HILARIO