Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

How to solve UE’s woes? Chongson says change management style


For the 10th straight season, University of the East will not make it to the next stage of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Red Warriors just suffered a 50-84 beatdown at the hands of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, which dropped UE to a 3-9 slate.

UE’s active consultant Lawrence Chongson did not mince his words after the game on Sunday.

UAAP-82-MBB-ADMU-VS.-UE-ALEX-DIAKHITE-REY-SUERTE How to solve UE's woes? Chongson says change management style Basketball News UAAP UE  - philippine sports news

“Ako naman I came here not thinking long-term, I’ll be honest with that. Hindi naman talaga ako dapat ‘yung coach, ‘di ba? Na-force tayo. ‘Di naman forced, parang… It could be in better hands in the short term, ‘di ba?” he lamented.

“Let’s face it — you get one-and-dones to win right away. Isang dekadang ‘di nag-Final Four, ‘yun din ang gusto naming i-solve. We want to get to the Final Four now.”

Chongson was at the helm during UE’s last Final Four appearance, but UE booted him out after Season 73.

Then came a carousel of coaches that saw the likes of Boycie Zamar, Derrick Pumaren, and Joe Silva take over.

Even with quality coaches, though, things did not result in victories. So for Chongson, the problem lies in the people on top of UE.

“Long-term… With UE’s history naman, wala namang long-term ang UE eh. They change coaches just like they change clothes. They got mga Hall of Fame coach like Derrick Pumaren, Boysie Zamar; they got the young guys, mga Joe Silva. One thing you have to give to them — they don’t stop trying,” he shared.

“Perhaps sa akin lang, try nila instead of changing coaches, change management din.”

Chongson’s job with UE is as an active consultant, not head coach. School owner Bong Tan was appointed to the post.

#ReadMore  After another elims exit, Aljun Melecio to follow Ayo's advice to heart

This came about since UE’s athletic office struggled with the team’s management.

Back in June, Silva and Chongson were no longer seeing eye-to-eye, with the latter calling the shots during their pre-season games.

When Silva handed his resignation just a week before the season, the team’s athletic office, headed by Rod Roque, did not want Chongson as the team’s head coach. It then resulted in the Tan-Chongson partnership.

UAAP81-_Mens-Volleyball-ADMU-vs-UE-Roque-2985 How to solve UE's woes? Chongson says change management style Basketball News UAAP UE  - philippine sports news

“Everybody’s acting in good faith, but it’s just that sometimes, when you put the steering wheel on the wrong driver, chances are they’d drive you off a cliff. Not to say na I want to stay. ‘Di naman ‘yun ‘yung inaano ko rito,” Chongson continued.

“Sa tagal ko na rin sa business na ‘to, ‘pag UE — Philippine basketball. Wala namang permanente. Bago ‘yung Tab Baldwin sumulpot sa Ateneo, nagpa-raffle din naman ng coaches din ‘yan eh.”

For his part, though, Chongson doesn’t know if he will be part of UE’s future. All he knows is UE has to solve its problems internally before it can move forward.

Written By




You May Also Like

Basketball

De La Salle University erupted for a scorching third quarter to keep its unbeaten streak alive, while National University locked in the final UAAP...

AU

University of Santo Tomas became the first team from the UAAP Group to clinch a playoff berth in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil...

Basketball

University of the East has added a new weapon to its backcourt in hopes of filling the void left by Rainer Maga ahead of...

AdU

Adamson University finally barged into the win column of the Playtime Cares Filoil 18th Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive after outlasting University...

Basketball

Jacob Cortez delivered a masterclass on Saturday night, exploding for 31 points to power De La Salle University past University of the Philippines, 106-99,...

AU

Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas kicked off their campaigns in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup presented by ABC...

AU

By: Jerod Orcullo The bloodline of former PBA enforcer Rudy Distrito lives on at University of the East. Jax Distrito, a 6-foot-2 guard from...

ADMU

Ateneo de Manila University will not be participating in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, which tips off on May 18 at the Filoil...

Advertisement