ALLAN Caidic knows what University of the East basketball is supposed to look like.
He knows it because he lived it.
Long before he became the PBA's most feared shooter, a Hall of Famer, and one of the greatest names in Philippine basketball, Caidic wore the red-and-white when UE was a destination, not a rebuilding project.
He was at the heart of one of the program's golden eras, helping the Red Warriors win three UAAP championships while establishing himself as one of the most accomplished players in school history.
That history is also why the struggles of the program still hit differently.
“Basketball became my career, my life, 'di ba? Somehow, when you see your former team struggling and losing, you get frustrated,” Caidic, now serving as active consultant for his alma mater, shared with SPIN.ph.
For Caidic, the urge to help whether during training or in-game is not about adding anything to a résumé that has long been secure.
'The Triggerman' went on to become a PBA MVP and one of the league's all-time greats, his place in Philippine basketball history cemented by a shooting career that made him a household name.
And when it comes to UE, the former Red Warrior sees something more personal.
“You really want to help them sa kahit anong way na makakatulong ka sa kanila,” he said. “And ito, kahit papaano, nabigyan ako ng chance to be with them, makita ko 'yung transition, makita ko 'yung difference.”
UE, back then
The difference, Caidic said, is impossible to ignore.
The college game he knew was a different world. During his time, recruitment was nowhere near the arms race it has become today. Players tried out for spots, and a powerhouse like UE was naturally among the places where the best players wanted to be.
“Ako, nagpunta lang, walk-in lang ako sa UE dati,” Caidic said.
Now, programs begin recruiting players as early as high school, and rebuilding a roster is a far more complicated process.
“We're adapting to it. We're trying to come up with a program na slowly getting there,” he said. “Pero hindi naman ganun kadali na we can get blue-chip players right away."
UE, right now
Caidic has been given the chance to contribute to that process, offering the experiences he has gathered from a lifetime in basketball to players and a program still trying to find solid ground.
“Somehow, nakakapa-input naman ako sa kanila ng mga vital things that can improve the program and the players,” he said. “And I'm grateful that UE gave me the privilege to share whatever experiences I had before.”
There are no guarantees about what comes next, either for Caidic or the coaching staff. The immediate task is to finish UE's remaining games before the university evaluates the direction of the program.
But for now, Caidic remains where his basketball journey began.
“It's really a challenge for UE na maging maayos 'yung programa,” he said. “And hopefully, ngayon, we're in that direction.”
For one of Philippine basketball's most accomplished figures, that hope is rooted in something deeper than nostalgia.
Caidic remembers what UE basketball once was. He also understands that bringing it back will not happen overnight.
Still, as long as there is a chance to help, one of the Red Warriors' greatest sons has chosen to remain part of the process
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