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UP coaching search down to four hopefuls

The Fighting Maroons still don't have a coach. (Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images)

From eight applicants, it's now down to four candidates, one of whom will likely call the shots for University of the Philippines men's basketball team.

According to an unimpeachable source who spoke on the condition of anonymity but is privy to the negotiations, the school's Varsity Athletics Admission System (VAAS) has already approved the shortlist submitted by the search committee where the possible full-time tactician of the Fighting Maroons will come from.

Interim head coach Rey Madrid, who took over the coaching mantle from Ricky Dandan midway through the just-concluded UAAP Season 76 men's cage wars, appears to have gained the inside track while former Maroons star Paolo Mendoza, former assistant coach Jojo Villa and current Big Chill coach Robert Sison remain in the hunt for the post, according to the source.

The source added the search committee was supposedly composed of five school officials but the representative of UP's alumni association did not join the interviewing panel. The source, however, didn't elaborate on the reason behind this supposed no-show. The other four members of the committee were former UP coach Joe Lipa, College of Human Kinetics dean Ronnie Dizer, athletic director Ariel Juliano, and UP professor Grace Gregorio.

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Left out of the race for the coaching job were Allan Gregorio, who serves as head coach of UP's high school team, former Ateneo player Jobe Nkemakolam, multi-titled coach Loreto Tolentino and a certain “Valencia” whom the source added has plied his wares in several countries in the Southeast Asian region.

“Most likely, ang mapipiling humawak sa team at the soonest possible is time is one of those in the shortlist,” said the source. “The decision will be made soon but the school is taking their time.”

Whoever emerges from the hopefuls will have his work cut out for him. The Fighting Maroons, now considered the doormat in the UAAP, endured another winless campaign in the country's premier collegiate league, marking the third time the school laid a big fat egg since 2007.

UP, which won its first and only men's crown in 1986 behind the potent duo of pro league greats Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc, continues to rebuild behind reigning Rookie of the Year awardee Kyles Lao, PH U16 mainstay Paul Desiderio and guard Henry Asilum.

Gone for the Fighing Maroons are top gunner Joseph Marata and efficient center Raul Soyud along with forwards Morian Gingerich and Julius Wong.