Chris Gavina appointed new UE Red Warriors coach

FILE–Former PBA coach Chris Gavina takes over for UE Red Warriors in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament. –INQUIRER FILE

University of the East has appointed former PBA coach Chris Gavina as the new head coach of its men’s basketball team in the UAAP.

Gavina, who coached Rain or Shine and Mahindra in the pro league,  takes over the Red Warriors program that last reached the Final Four in 2009.

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READ: UAAP: UE parts ways with coach Jack Santiago

He replaces Jack Santiago, who served as UE’s head coach for three seasons before leaving after the team’s Season 87 campaign.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Chris Gavina to the Red Warriors family,” UE President Zosimo Battad said during the signing ceremony at UE Manila on February 13. “His leadership, passion, and experience will be key in developing our team.”

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UE Red Warriors welcome new coach Chris Gavina. –UE PHOTO

Aside from local coaching stints, Gavina also took his act to Taiwan, where he steered the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament and the Taichung Suns to the T1 League.

READ: Chris Gavina leaves PBA to coach in Taiwan T1 league

Gavina is expected to lead a young Red Warriors team that showed tremendous promise last season, almost ending their Final Four drought and finishing at fifth.

His experience with rising talents, being named the best coach in the 2024 U19 NBTC National Finals Division 1 Tournament, makes Gavina the perfect person for the job, the school said.

“The UE Red Warriors have a proud history, and I am eager to instill a mindset of hard work, resilience, and accountability,” Gavina said in a press release. “I want to help these young athletes reach their full potential.”

The Red Warriors used to be a powerhouse in UAAP men’s basketball and has produced big names in the sport with the likes of PBA legends Robert Jaworski and Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera. –Celest Flores-Colina