UE Red Warriors Appoint Former PBA Coach Chris Gavina As New Mentor

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

There will be a new era in the University of the East (UE) UAAP basketball squad after the program hired the leading prowess of former PBA coach Chris Gavina as their new chief tactician.

The latest development going on in the UE Red Warriors rebuild was confirmed on February 13, 2025, after the school formally welcomed Gavina through a social media post on their official Facebook page.

“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.

Indeed, Gavina boasts an impressive track record after turning heads when he made his coaching debut in the PBA mentoring the Mahindra Enforcer/KIA Picanto basketball team.

After his stint with Mahindra, Gavina was called up by the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and became their assistant coach from 2018-2020, before assuming top coaching duties in the 2021 season.

Gavina further boosted his coaching expertise when he made noise in the international scene as he signed a deal with the Taichung Suns competing in the Taiwanese professional basketball league.

He also manned the sidelines for the Taiwan Mustangs basketball club which competed in The Asian Tournament held in the Philippines several months ago.

Gavina will replace UE’s long-time head coach Jack Santiago who took over the coaching helm last 2022.

During Santiago’s tenure as a head coach, he failed to help the Red Warriors return to the UAAP Final Four and amassed a win-loss record of 15-41.

“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.