FALLING down to 0-2 may be alarming to some, but this ain't Chris Gavina's first rodeo at the bottom of the standings.
That's why even if University of the East finds itself in familiar territory at the early stages of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament, he's not panicking one bit.
"No," he shrugged when asked about the panic button on the heels of a 62-60 defeat to Ateneo on Wednesday.
READ: Gavina rues UE shot itself in the foot in narrow loss to Ateneo
What's different for Gavina this time is the patience that was given to him to reboot this Red Warriors program that has been stuck in the mud for the past decade and more.
"I've never had a long-term deal, I'm gonna be brutally honest with you. I've never had a two-year, three-year deal," said the first-year mentor.
Looking back at his past teams from Kia in the PBA to the Taiwan Mustangs, Gavina has always had to deal with the turnstile of players impeding his desire to build a culture.
"There's always a constant turnaround of players with the amount of guys that I had to inherit and to generate the success that we did, the challenge is great for me. But is it unfamiliar territory? No, it's not," he said.
Correcting course in Recto
That's what makes this UE job unique for Gavina, that finally, he has been handed the keys to a program which he could mold much to his liking.
And even if times may not be that easy for the Red Warriors right now, he remains upbeat on what the future holds for him in this partnership.
"I always see a challenge as an opportunity, that energy, that fire, and that 'prove them wrong' kind of spirit. Some of these guys are getting it and eventually, when they start walking around with their gold chain hanging out, then I know that I got to them already," he said.
But for now, Gavina's willing to take those Ls in hopes of building a brighter future in Recto.
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