After thorough deliberation, the University of the East has appointed Chris Gavina as the new head coach of its men’s basketball team, multiple sources told Tiebreaker Times on Thursday.
Gavina, 46, will take over from Jack Santiago, who held the position for the past four seasons.
The school panel made its decision early last week and made the announcement on Thursday.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Chris Gavina to the Red Warriors family. His leadership, passion and experience in both local and international basketball will be instrumental in molding our new breed of champions,” UE President Zosimo Battad said at the signing held in UE Manila.
Present also at the signing were UE officials led by Vice Chairman David Chua and Senior Vice President Florence Siy.
“I am honored to coach the UE Red Warriors, a program that has produced legends of Philippine basketball. For those who cherish basketball history, I am humbled to step into the role once held by the phenomenal Coach Baby Dalupan, who led this institution to its golden era,” Gavina said.
Gavina edged out former Gilas Pilipinas Boys head coach Josh Reyes for the role, with his long-term vision for the Red Warriors ultimately securing him the position.
His coaching career in the Philippines began in 2016 when he served as the lead assistant coach for the Mahindra Enforcer, a team that later became Kia Picanto and is now known as the Terrafirma Dyip.
He remained in that role until 2018 before joining Rain or Shine as an assistant coach while also handling the MPBL’s Valenzuela Classic, and, later on, the Bacoor Strikers.
In 2021, Gavina was promoted to head coach of the Elasto Painters but returned to an assistant role the following year.
He then took his coaching career overseas, leading the Taichung Suns in Taiwan’s T1 League from 2022-23, where he finished with an 8-22 record, placing fifth in the six-team league.
He later coached the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament.
Beyond his coaching experience, Gavina’s strong connections with Fil-Am Nation Select and his detailed development plan for UE’s basketball program were key factors in his selection.
“The UE Red Warriors have a rich tradition, and I am eager to instill a culture of hard work, resilience and accountability. My goal is to help these young men reach their fullest potential by fostering a relentless work ethic, which, when paired with that never-say-die spirit, will make us a force to reckon with,” added Gavina.
Some of the deputies already tapped by the school and Gavina are Rob Labagala and Paolo Hubalde.
