CHRIS Gavina knew his first year in University of the East would be trying.
What he didn't expect, though, were the wins being hard to come by.
But in the midst of another lost campaign for the Red Warriors this UAAP Season 88, the first-year mentor is taking solace in the foundation he's putting in place in Recto.
"It's always great to see our young guys emerging," he said. "I've spoken to several of them about we don't have any more rookies at this point in the year. They've already started their sophomore season, in my opinion, and they're emerging."
Gavina made special mention of Dylan Despi and Kristoper Lagat, neophytes who came from the high school program who are now showing immense flashes of their potential for UE - a much-welcome silver lining in what has been a frustrating 0-12 run so far.
READ: Desperate times for UE? Those call for Dylan Despi measures
The two displayed their chops anew on Wednesday when they aided the Red Warriors' spirited fightback before valiantly falling to University of Santo Tomas, 109-97.
"Dylan went from five turnovers last game to 15 points, seven assists this game. So for him to really turn things around so quickly, it just shows his upside," the mentor said of the Bacolod-born point guard.
"And Lagat is Lagat. We call him a crocodile for a reason and he knows what his job is out there. Him producing buckets is his job and everybody's realizing that," he added of his Pangasinense swingman who dropped 13 in the losing effort.
For Gavina, these little things should benefit the red-and-white in the long run, especially with seniors John Abate and Wello Lingolingo graduating at the end of the season.
And for the young guns to embrace these responsibilities feel like a victory in its own for the Fil-Am shot-caller.
"The roles are being settled in," said Gavina, who is in the first of his three-year contract in UE.
UE young guns being thrown into the fire
Of course, it comes growing pains are wrapped together with bad habits. Gavina, though, is confident those can be minimized the longer they work together.
As he put it, "I told these guys, we have to eliminate losing plays. Losing plays to me is not being in the right place, not knowing our rotations, our rules. We eliminate those, then winning will emerge on its own."
"All this now is just foundation for the year to come of the work that needs to be done. But it's great seeing our young guys really show that they can compete against anybody at this level and we need to be able to use that as a catapult platform for next year."
With two more games left in their schedule, the hunger to win never wavers for these Red Warriors.
But as much as Gavina wants this skid to end - one that has now increased to 18 straight losses dating back to last year - all he wants to see is for his wards to play with pride.
"Honestly, for me, just play humble," he said. "We have nothing to lose, everything to gain. So play with no fear."
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