Arsenio Dysangco’s coaching journey began in men’s basketball at a time when women’s basketball had yet to gain significant attention in the Philippines during the late 1990s.
He started his career coaching collegiate men’s teams and later ventured into the professional men’s basketball scene.
Dysangco’s early experiences include serving as an assistant coach under the late Dong Vergeire for the College of Saint Benilde in 2000, the same year the Blazers clinched their NCAA basketball title.
He also worked as a deputy for Vergeire during the 26th William Jones Cup in 2004.
Dysangco’s career continued to evolve as he took on roles with the Adamson University men’s basketball team in the UAAP before making his way into the PBA.
He coached teams like the Burger King Whoppers and Air 21 Express. In 2012, he returned to his alma mater, Chiang Kai Shek College, to coach the Blue Dragons and also took on a coaching role with the PBA D-League’s Big Chill.
Despite his successful coaching career in men’s basketball, Dysangco’s perspective on the sport shifted when an unexpected opportunity arose from his first-grade classmate, Haydee Ong — the current head coach of the University of Santo Tomas women’s basketball team and the WMPBL commissioner.
The two, who had attended Chiang Kai Shek College together, reconnected in the world of basketball when Ong offered Dysangco an assistant coach role with the women’s national basketball team in 2012.
Dysangco credits Ong’s sacrifices and dedication to advancing women’s basketball in the Philippines for inspiring him to switch his focus from men’s basketball to women’s basketball.
“Kaya nga sabi ko sakanya ‘non na hindi na ako babalik sa men’s basketball. Ang tagal ko rin sa men’s ‘eh, mula national team and sa PBA under kay coach Yeng [Guiao]. Sabi ko hindi na, I learned to love coaching yung girls tsaka yung women’s with her,” Dysangco shared.
This decision to leave men’s basketball behind proved to be a turning point.
Under Dysangco’s guidance, he and Ong formed a formidable coaching partnership, starting with a silver medal finish in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.
Their greatest achievement, however, came when Ong returned to UST to revitalize the university’s women’s basketball program.
Together, they overcame years of struggle to develop both the women’s and girls’ basketball teams.
The partnership began to bear fruit with multiple bronze medal finishes in Seasons 80, 81, and 85, followed by a runner-up finish in Season 82.
The ultimate triumph came when the UST Growling Tigresses dethroned the seven-time defending champions, the NU Lady Bulldogs, to win their first UAAP women’s basketball title since 2006.
UST’s success wasn’t confined to the women’s division. The Junior Growling Tigresses also made waves by emerging as co-champions in the inaugural UAAP girls’ basketball tournament in Season 82 and securing a silver medal in the Season 86 3×3 girls’ basketball tournament.
Fast forward to Season 87, Dysangco’s early efforts in establishing UST’s girls’ basketball program paid off.
The Junior Growling Tigresses completed a first-round sweep, highlighted by a 75-69 win over the NUNS Lady Bullpups at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Reflecting on his long-standing partnership with Ong, Dysangco expressed admiration for her character and commitment to the sport.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Si Coach Haydee, she’s a woman with integrity and loyalty.
“I cannot find a better friend and a better person who loves women’s basketball more than she does, yung sakripisyo pa lang niya, wala na akong masabi. Parang sinasabi namin na pamilya na kami ‘eh dahil sa tagal namin magkakilala talaga,” Dysangco said.
He continued, “Sabi ko sa kanya, masaya na ako sa aming pagkakaibigan, sa aming trabaho, and she’s very supportive of these kids. Nasa background lang siya, pero lahat ng program na ito, naisipan namin gawin together.”
Despite the Junior Growling Tigresses’ success in the first round of the UAAP Season 87 High School Girls Basketball Tournament, Dysangco remains focused on the long-term development of girls’ basketball in the Philippines.
He believes that the growing pains of teams like the Blue Eagles and Junior Lady Archers are essential in the process of establishing a more developed women’s and girls’ basketball program, which he believes will benefit future generations.
“Hindi lang nasa loob ng bahay [at] nagce-cellphone, yung energy nila ay mailabas nila into something good, that will toughen them up… Something that matututo sila how to work hard, yung discipline, yung team work, yung integrity ng sports para matulungan natin yung next generation,” he expressed.
“For the schools, huwag sana [kayo] mag-give up at huwag sumuko sa ating mga kabataan, para sa ating mga kabataang babae na mahal mag-basketball.”
