FORMER Mapua players Randy Alcantara and Jack Santiago are being eyed as the next Cardinals head coach after the school formally parted ways with Atoy Co.
Co spent six years handling his alma mater's varsity squad, taking the Cardinals to the Final Four twice back in 2015 and 2016 back when they still had back-to-back MVP Allwell Oraeme in the lineup.
It has been all downhill from there.
The Cardinals finished with a 6-12 (win-loss) record in Co's final season as head coach. He was 40-72 overtime.
Alcantara comes in as the strongest candidate after leading the Red Robins to an NCAA juniors championship. Mapua's juniors side is again in the finals this season facing a 1-0 deficit against La Salle Greenhills.
He was also Co’s assistant for the longest time and is highly recommended by the PBA legend to replace him.
Santiago, on the other hand, is also from a successful program, having been Franz Pumaren’s assistant in all of his five UAAP championships and is currently part of the Adamson Falcons’ resurgence in this era.
Whoever takes over Co’s squad will have a wealth of young talent at their disposal as they have promising upstarts Warren Bonifacio, Eric Jabel and Noah Lugo as cornerstones.
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