By: Miguel Marco
After years of coaching at the professional level — from the Philippines to Taiwan — Chris Gavina has embraced a new challenge: leading University of the East.
Stepping into the country’s premier varsity league, Gavina already feels energized by the atmosphere, embracing the school’s culture.
“It is extremely rewarding and exciting. I love the environment, the crowds, every tune-up game has been motivating and inspiring,” said Gavina, who replaced Jack Santiago during the off-season.
The 46-year-old coach has previously helmed Mahindra and Rain or Shine in the PBA before taking his expertise abroad.
In 2022, he led Taichung in Taiwan’s T1 League, further honing his coaching philosophy.
Now back in the Philippines, Gavina admits that transitioning to the collegiate level is both refreshing and challenging.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“All these drums blasting around is something new to me. The UE community coming out and supporting us is a true inspiration, not just for myself, but for all our players to represent the university to the best of our ability,” he said.
Gavina feels determined to instill a disciplined mindset and gritty attitude in the Red Warriors — qualities he envisions as the foundation of the team’s identity.
He is calling this the “new UE culture.”
“When they talk about UE, I want us, I want opponents, our fans to say that we’re a team that plays the right way, plays together, plays unselfishly, plays with a great deal of character and grit every time we step on the floor,” he added.
His vision for UAAP Season 88 is clear: a team defined by intensity and discipline.
“We expect a team that’s going to play extremely disciplined, high intensity on defense, a great deal of togetherness, and again, just playing a high level of character every time we play on the court,” Gavina emphasized.
#WATCH: First year at the helm, Chris Gavina and UE aim to make waves in a competitive UAAP landscape 🏀🗡
📹 @macooooooy /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason88 pic.twitter.com/m0HLAjKxQv
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 16, 2025
