San Sebastian names Tony Tan as new Stags head coach

SAN Sebastian named Tony Tan as its next head coach for the NCAA Season 102, replacing Rob Labagala after a tumultuous 2025 for the Stags.

Tan was born in Davao but grew up in Canada where he fell in love with basketball and played in the collegiate and semi-pro level in the country. He then transitioned to coaching for United Prep Canada, where he handled youth squads, from boys and girls ranging from age six to 17.

United Prep Canada, Tan’s team, will also be serving as the team’s new sponsor.

“I’m not here to change things, I’m here to make things happen and do my job the best I can to be competitive,” Tan said in his formal presentation in San Sebastian.

While Tan’s seemingly a new name in Philippine basketball, his bench will have several notable faces led by former Stag Rodney Santos and his fellow ex-pros John Ferriols and Ejay Feihl.

Women’s basketball pioneer Ewon Arayi will also be part of the bench. Completing his assistants are Cay Lim, Airness Alao, Gab Mallari and Migo Santos. Alao will also be handing the Staglets.

“I was here over the summer and I just said wow. The guys here play really tough. It’s really different from overseas. It’s really physical,” he said when asked of his thoughts on Philippine collegiate basketball.

“I’m really blessed with my assistant coaches. They have a lot of experience, from collegiate, amateur and professional. Those things, put together, we’re just like a basketball team also, us coaches. These guys will help me in many ways.”

Tan takes over from Labagala after a season where the Stags, 3-10 after the elimination, bounced out in the play-in against Lyceum.

The record, though, wasn’t even the worst of the season for the embattled Stags as the team had to battle through unpaid dues from their sponsor Jackson Chua.

READ: 'Wala pa rin': Backer yet to fulfill financial promises to Baste

While it will be an uphill climb for Tan in this rebuild, he’ll have plenty of young guys at his disposal to start of his Philippine coaching career.

NCAA defensive player of the year and mythical team member Jhuniel dela Rama will still be this team's face while Ian Cuajao and Christian Ricio are also both eligible to return to form a nice young core for Tan, should these players opt to run it back with San Sebastian.