(UPDATE) - The last-place University of the East Red Warriors have decided to make a coaching change prior to the start of the second round of the UAAP men's basketball tournament.
In a text message to Yahoo! PH Sports, head coach Jerry Codiñera confirmed that he was being relieved of coaching duties and reassigned to another position.
"Good day! Yes, I am now appointed Sports Consultant for UE," Codiñera said in his text message to this writer.
The decision was made by UE management yesterday and started to make the social network rounds soon after as questions regarding Codiñera's replacement began to surface on Twitter.
UE's UAAP Board member and Assistant Physical Education Director Rodrigo Roque confirmed that former coach Boysie Zamar will replace Codiñera.
"Today is his Day 1," said Roque of Zamar, while adding that for now the former UE Warrior and head coach will handle the team only up to the end of the season.
Zamar called the shots for the Warriors from 2001 to 2003 and led the team to two Final Four appearances. He is the father of former Warrior Paul Zamar.
Zamar was teammates with Codiñera and Allan Caidic and helped lead UE to two UAAP championship titles in 1984 and 1985. He also mentored PBA players and former Warriors James Yap, Paul Artadi, Ronald Tubid, KG Canaleta, Paulo Hubalde, and Rob Labagala during his coaching career with his alma mater.
The Warriors lost their last game to the UP Fighting Maroons, 48-63, to finish the first round with a 1-6 record.
Codiñera was only in his second season as head coach. Last year, he guided his young team to seventh place with a 3-11 win-loss record.
