NEW UE shot-caller Chris Gavina coached his first collegiate game on Sunday.
The result? The UAAP’s longest-running losing streak extended to seven, as National U kicked off its season on a high note.
READ: NU blasts off in UAAP Season 88 after blowing out UE
John Abate (10 points) and the ever-dependable Precious Momowei (12 points, 16 rebounds) held their end of the bargain, but their inexperience blew over when they could only respond to the Bulldogs’ 20-point third quarter with a measly 11.
“I feel like in the third quarter is where our demise started,” Gavina explained. “And I'll own up to, I always, I'm the last say on who's playing.
“And so I just got to find the right synergy of players moving forward as we get ready for Ateneo on Wednesday.”
With the Red Warriors having such an unfavorable start, Gavina pumped the brakes on any expectations of them turning things around quick.
“We're a young team and these guys have to learn through their mistakes and through these high-pressure moments,” he said.
Slowly, but surely for UE
Regardless of how good Gavina’s radical coaching style is, no one should expect UE to turn the tide in just one season.
With the Recto squad moving past regime changes and the departures of core players like Jack Cruz-Dumont and Rainer Maga, fans won’t hold it against them if the Red Warriors ultimately produce a minimal-win season.
But that isn’t Gavina’s agenda, and the players are also starting to show that it won’t be theirs too.
As he put it, “Our players are holding themselves accountable. We will come back and come back strong on Wednesday against Ateneo.”
“I feel once we get through those moments and our guys learn how to deal with that pressure and anxiety, we'll be fine.”
When he arrived in Recto, Gavina’s assessment was simple–mentality comes first before results.
And in the short couple of months since handling the team, Gavina was confident enough to say that progress has been made.
“Creating a winning mindset or winning culture doesn't easily happen. You gotta be able to go through the fire and find the grit and the resiliency, that spirit to tell yourself that you can overcome these things,” he said.
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