HITTING the reset button, three UAAP and NCAA schools have hired new head coaches, as they look for better returns this upcoming collegiate season.
University of the East, Jose Rizal University, and San Sebastian have all enlisted new shot-callers, hopeful to will their way back to relevancy starting in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive.
Bomba UE!
Chris Gavina has been handed the fresh mandate to reboot the Red Warriors program as the school looks to end a 16-year Final Four drought in the UAAP.
Though this will be his first time in the collegiate ranks, Gavina is bringing in a loaded resume formerly handing PBA teams Rain or Shine and Kia and will try to shape his wards to the pros he previously handled.
Fortunately for him, UE still has a solid core led by foreign student-athlete Precious Momowei backstopped by Wello Lingolingo and John Abate, all of whom are aiming to get the Recto squad over the hump this year.
Bravo Baste!
Over in another part of Recto, San Sebastian has entrusted the keys to Rob Labagala.
The five-year pro who most famously donned the Ginebra uniform has plied his trade over the years, serving as a deputy for Josh Reyes in Gilas Pilipinas Youth and as an assistant to Jeff Napa in National U.
Now, Labagala has a team of his own in the Golden Stags with NCAA Season 100 Mythical Team member TJ Felebrico leading the charge, together with bluechip rookies Ian Cuajao and Jhuniel dela Rama.
Animo Rizal!
JRU also chose one of its own, calling up Nani Epondulan to return to his alma mater.
Serving as a longtime deputy to Randy Alcantara in Mapua, the 1990 NCAA MVP is dreaming of bringing that same level of success back to Kalentong.
The Heavy Bombers, though, will have to work doubly hard with Shawn Argente, Mart Barrera, and MJ Raymundo tasked to lead the crew in this campaign.
Before waging war in their respective mother leagues, they will have this chance to tinker with their teams in the premier preseason league which has Playtime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Reyes Barbecue, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
