NEW beginnings start at the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
That much holds water for three of collegiate basketball's newest shot-callers, as they kickstart their preparations for their mother leagues in the 19th staging of the famed preseason tilt.
Chito Victolero, Jamike Jarin, and Tony Tan all seek to get their programs off and running, all while getting a firsthand look at the competition they're about to brace for.
Victolero is actually returning to his alma mater Mapua after previously calling the shots from 2009-12.
Times, though, have changed, from Victolero's resume now adding an entry as PBA champion coach when he steered Magnolia to the 2018 Governors' Cup crown to the Cardinals reeling from a season where they got dethroned.
Without main man Clint Escamis, Mapua will now rely on holdovers MC Cuenco, Cyrus Nitura, Ivan Lazarte, and Yam Concepcion.
Jarin, on the other hand, is also making a comeback to the collegiate scene with Lyceum.
His task, however, is shaping up to be a tall one, even as the Pirates hope to replicate the level of success he's had in the past, most notably when he led San Beda to the NCAA title in 2016.
And LPU means business in achieving that, with Mac Guadana returning and joining fellow homegrown guards Matt Rubico and Greg Cunanan.
San Sebastian's new coach, again
San Sebastian, for its part, will have its fourth coach in as many years in Tan, with the once-proud program holding out hope this will be the right reboot, at long last.
The Fil-Canadian coach is coming in with a lot of promise, one that is badly needed by the Golden Stags who have resided in the 'Grand Ol' League's' cellar for the past three years.
Baste is banking on new blood led by rookie Carlo Ynot and holdovers Polo Gabat and Christian Ricio for this rebuild, as it hopes to erase the bitter memories of last year's winless run in the preseason.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
