Hitting the reset button, three University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools hired new head coaches as they look for better returns this upcoming collegiate season.
University of the East (UE), San Sebastian College and Jose Rizal University have all enlisted new mentors, hopeful to gain their way back to relevancy starting in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
Chris Gavina has been handed the fresh mandate to reboot the Red Warriors program as the school looks to end a 16-year Final Four drought in the UAAP.
Though this will be his first time in the collegiate ranks, Gavina is bringing in a loaded resume formerly handing Philippine Basketball Association teams Rain or Shine and Kia and will try to shape his wards to the pros he previously handled.
Fortunately for him, UE still has a solid core led by foreign student-athlete Precious Momowei backstopped by Wello Lingolingo and John Abate, all of whom are aiming to get the Recto squad over the hump this year.
San Sebastian, on the other hand, has entrusted the keys to Rob Labagala.
The five-year pro who most famously donned the Ginebra uniform has plied his trade over the years, serving as a deputy for Josh Reyes in Gilas Pilipinas Youth and as an assistant to Jeff Napa in National University.
Now, Labagala has a team of his own in the Golden Stags with NCAA Season 100 Mythical Team member TJ Felebrico leading the charge, together with blue chip rookies Ian Cuajao and Jhuniel dela Rama.
JRU also chose one of its own, calling up Nani Epondulan to return to his alma mater.
Serving as a longtime deputy to Randy Alcantara in Mapua, the former NCAA Most Valuable Player is dreaming of bringing that same level of success back to Kalentong.
The Heavy Bombers, though, will have to work doubly hard with Shawn Argente, Mart Barrera and MJ Raymundo tasked to lead the crew in this campaign.