Decorated high school head coach Goldwin Monteverde will now be moving on to the collegiate ranks.
Monteverde has been named as the head coach of the University of the Philippines’ men’s basketball team, Friday afternoon.
The announcement was made by the school’s chancellor.
“I would like to announce that the next UPMBT head coach is Goldwin Monteverde,” read the statement of UP chancellor Fidel Nemenzo.
And it has been a long time coming for the two-time UAAP High School Boys’ Basketball champion coach.
Back in 2018, Monteverde was linked to the then-vacant University of the East post, but chose to remain in National University-Nazareth School.
Then in 2020, he was promoted to Bulldogs head coach after steering the Bullpups to multiple championships. However, he was not able to get the post as well.
Besides producing blue-chip recruits, Monteverde also boasts a stellar record.
In his three-year stay with the Bullpups, Monteverde guided the team to an outstanding 45-6 slate (8-2 in the post-season).
He steered the Bullpups to back-to-back UAAP crowns, an unprecedented back-to-back in the NBTC National Finals, and numerous championships in the PSSBC, MMBL, and Palarong Pambansa. Monteverde also led NS-NU to gold in the 2018 and 2019 ASEAN School Games.
The other leading candidate for the post was Patrick Aquino.
“Despite the recent pandemic measures, we have continued with our consultations with the UP community, stakeholders, and supporters of the UP Men’s Basketball Team. We also conducted interviews with the applicants as part of the vetting process for the selection of UPMBT head coach,” disclosed Nemenzo.
Former head coach Bo Perasol, on the other hand, has been named as the program director. Meanwhile, Atty. Agaton Uvero will be the team’s manager. Also helping out in the transition is Dean Kiko Diaz.
“The decision is a difficult one as UP has a very unique program in terms of management and community support. Obviously, there are alumni supporters who have played a massive role in the resurgence of the program,” said Perasol.
“It should be noted also that a UP head coach takes both coaching and management functions. All these factors have to be considered in addition to the coach’s competence, experience, and disposition. Personally, it is the right decision under the present circumstance.”
It’s going to be a new era for UP as it lost Kobe Paras; Bright Akhuetie; Javi and Juan Gomez de Liaño; Jun Manzo; Jaydee Tungcab; and David Murrell in the off-season.
Still, it will still have holdovers Ricci Rivero and James Spencer along with new recruits Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, Malick Diouf, Bismarck Lina, Joel Cagulangan, Anton Eusebio, CJ Cansino, Cyrtil Gonzales, RC Calimag, Miguel Tan, and Jancorck Cabahug, among others.
“It’s the start of a new era with the designation of the new head coach. But unlike before, the new head coach will be coming in with a solid organization and basketball program started during Coach Bo’s time,” said NowheretogobutUP founder Renen Dalisay.
“The alumni group will continue to support this program and will accord the new head coach the same passion and fervor that will help the team become competitive and viable in all the upcoming seasons of the UAAP.”
