ZERO was University of the East's grand total of wins in its first preseason campaign under head coach Chris Gavina.
Not counting Ateneo which begged off from the 2025 Filoil Preseason Cup, the Red Warriors found themselves at the wrong end of results against each and every UAAP foe.
But rather than being preview of what’s to come, Gavina is adamant that this is actually the start of their return to relevance.
“You know, for me, we're process-driven instead of results-driven right now. Honestly, we're not completely there yet,” he said.
For the first-year shot-caller, youth was one of the reasons why the Recto-based squad is in this predicament. He, however, has no plans of taking it slow.
“Some of our younger guys need to go through the fire and learn what culture really is. Until you go through this level of adversity, you won't know what your true character will be,” he said.
And make no mistake, that goes for he himself as well.
As he explained, “It wasn't something that I was going to learn in four months with a team I just inherited. I think as we moved along, we got better. So that was really the overall goal of what we were trying to accomplish.”
Mental fortitude is a 'Precious' thing
For his wards to work their way into being battle-tested for the upcoming Season 88, Gavina also enlisted help from the school's psychology department to prepare UE's players for what he will put them through.
“We just started a sports psychology evaluation for our guys. I told our dean of psychology, you gotta get them ready for me, not the UAAP. If they can deal with me, they can deal with 10,000 fans yelling at them,” he said daringly.
Of the entire roster, Gavina made it clear that their top priority for the psychology evaluation is Nigerian big Precious Momowei - not only because of his penchant for getting into it with opponents and officials, but moreso because of the value he brings to the Red Warriors.
“He was probably one of the guys that I was really trying to instill discipline with early on. Because I don't want the same thing that happened last year, where he was suspended on the brink of making a Final Four run, to happen again this year,” he said.
The former PBA coach, however, is the first to admit as well that he himself can go overboard at times.
So his challenge to UE? To use it as motivation to match his intensity.
“I think I need it too, to be honest with you. There are times when my anger management needs to be controlled. I told them that when I get animated and I get passionate, they need to embrace my energy and just play to my confidence in them,” he said.
Without a doubt, the climb back to the mountaintop is steep for Gavina and Co.
But under his fiery leadership, the Red Warriors aren’t just looking to endure the fire, they’re seeking to forge something new from it.
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