At just 26 years old, Sandro Soriano has already walked the path most coaches spend decades trying to pave.
From being a student manager at Ateneo de Manila University to becoming an assistant coach for Gilas Pilipinas and a championship-winning strategist for Meralco in the PBA, Soriano’s rise through the ranks has been nothing short of remarkable.
But behind his success is a constant thread of mentorship, discipline, and learning — much of which he credits to two of the most respected basketball minds in global basketball: Tab Baldwin and Nenad Vucinic.
“I was just 20, and I remember thinking, how will these guys even listen to me?” Soriano recalled of his early years working alongside PBA stars like Troy Rosario and Kiefer Ravena in Gilas.
“But Coach Tab always said coaching is never about yourself. It’s about focusing on the player and helping them reach their potential. That stuck with me.”
Those early lessons came while Soriano was still a student at Ateneo, balancing his life as a Team B player and student manager for the Blue Eagles.
It was a grind — showing up to practice, attending coaches’ meetings, and absorbing the nuances of the game even from the sidelines.
Eventually, that work ethic caught the attention of Baldwin and later, Vucinic.
GILAS GRIND
(C) SBP
His first real taste of national duty came in 2019 when he was brought in by Coach Mark Dickel to join Gilas Pilipinas as a video coordinator and statistician for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
There, Soriano worked under the guidance of Dickel — himself a former player and longtime Baldwin mentee — who opened the doors to an even bigger learning experience.
By 2020, just before the pandemic halted sports worldwide, Soriano had earned a spot in the Gilas Pilipinas bubble in Calamba.
It was in that five-month grind that the real transformation happened.
“Coach Tab, Coach Norman Black, Coach Jong Uichico, Coach Boyet Fernandez, and Coach Caloy Garcia — every day I was surrounded by them,” he said.
“We had three practices a day, video sessions, coaches’ meetings that ended past midnight. I just kept my eyes and ears open. I asked questions constantly.”
What he absorbed during those months became the backbone of his coaching philosophy.
From reading game film to understanding the psychology of players, Soriano learned how to lead through teaching.
He learned how to command a room not with loud voice — but with preparation, clarity, and respect.
WINNING RESPECT
(C) Sandro Soriano
It didn’t take long for the results to show.
After becoming a full-fledged assistant coach for Ateneo in UAAP Season 84, Soriano helped guide the Blue Eagles to the UAAP Season 85 championship — a redemption arc after falling short during the bubble season.
Then came his stint with Meralco in the PBA, where he was brought in to be part of Coach Luigi Trillo’s staff.
In a league where experience often outweighs potential, Soriano stood out by blending both.
He quickly earned the trust of PBA veterans like Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge through one-on-one film breakdowns and scouting reports that matched the details of long-time coaches.
“All those sleepless nights — game planning, breaking down film, staying up late with Coach Nenad — they paid off,” he said.
“Winning the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup with Meralco was a culmination of everything I’ve learned so far.”
Soriano is quick to deflect credit, always circling back to his mentors.
“I wouldn’t be here without Coach Tab and Coach Nenad,” he said.
“They didn’t just teach me basketball. They taught me how to think, how to prepare, and how to lead. They taught me to keep chasing growth no matter how far I’ve come.”
Now, Soriano is set to bring that mindset to a new environment.
He’s headed to Utah Prep Academy in the United States, where he’ll continue his coaching journey under the watchful eye of Dickel—yes, the same coach who gave him his first Gilas break.
It’s a full-circle moment for the young tactician, who is eager to learn more, adapt to new systems, and refine his craft in the competitive American prep circuit.
From Iloilo pickup games with Anjo Caram to dissecting playbooks with some of the most brilliant coaching minds in the country, Soriano has come a long way.
And in Utah, that journey continues.
