Chris Gavina is tasked to lead UE Red Warriors to greater heights in the next UAAP basketball season.
The search is over.
Former PBA coach Chris Gavina was appointed as the new UE Red Warriors mentor for the UAAP men’s basketball tournament, the school announced on Thursday, February 13.
Gavina replaced Jack Santiago.
UE president Zosimo Battad expressed his elation in welcoming the seasoned tactician, who has experiences as head coach in the PBA and Taiwan’s T1 League under his belt.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Chris Gavina to the Red Warriors family. His leadership, passion and experience in both local and international basketball will be instrumental in molding our new breed of champions,” Battad said.
Gavina made his big break as coach of PBA expansion team Kia in 2017. He then took his talents to the MPBL, then returned as Rain or Shine head coach during the pandemic.
But his basketball wits also brought him overseas, where he called the shots for the Taichung Suns in the T1 League.
Gavina couldn’t wait to hit the ground running with this new endeavor.
“The UE Red Warriors have a rich tradition, and I am eager to instill a culture of hard work, resilience and accountability. My goal is to help these young men reach their fullest potential by fostering a relentless work ethic, which, when paired with that never-say-die spirit, will make us a force to reckon with,” Gavina said of the team, which takes pride in producing Philippine basketball legends like Ginebra icon Robert Jaworski.
Under Santiago, the Red Warriors barely missed the Final Four after winding up with a 6-8 win-loss record in UAAP Season 87--notably even stringing a five-game winning streak.
With Gavina now in tow, the Red Warriors are hopeful to return to the league’s biggest stage and play under the brightest lights of collegiate basketball.