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Ex-NCAA coaches Tolentino, Esplana lead initial list of UP applicants

University of the Philipines players celebrate after winning against Adamson University during the UAAP Season 77 held at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on 9 August 2014. (Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images)

A multi-titled tactician, a trio of veteran coaches and a former UP Maroon have thrown their hats in the ring for the vacant University of the Philippines men’s basketball coaching position.

According to an unimpeachable source who is privy to the development but spoke on the condition of anonymity to Yahoo Philippines on Sunday, former Philippine Christian University head coach Loreto “Ato” Tolentino leads the initial list of candidates who have submitted their letter of intent to replace outgoing mentor Rey Madrid.

A former star forward during his playing days and one of the pioneer cagers when the PBA opened in 1975, Tolentino is also a proven champion coach, having led the once-feared Dolphins to the NCAA men’s cage title in 2004 behind a loaded roster led by forward Gabby Espinas, guard Jayson Castro and center Beau Belga.

Tolentino also led the University of Manila Hawks to a five-peat romp in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) from 2001 to 2005. Thus, in 2004, he became the only Filipino coach to lead two college teams to basketball championships in the same year. The veteran tactician also applied for Maroons head coach last year.

Also in the race for UP’s vacancy are former Emilio Aguinaldo College coach Gerry Esplana, ex-Rizal Technological University tactician Rhuel "Beaujing" Acot, and former Formula Shell coach Arlene Rodriguez.

Esplana resigned as EAC coach at the end of the elimination round of NCAA Season 90 after the Generals slumped to a 4-14 record. Acot served as Pido Jarencio’s chief assistant with the UST Tigers before striking it out on his own at RTU, which he led to a title in the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA).

Rodriguez coached the Zoom Masters to the 1990 PBA Open Conference crown, where they beat Anejo Rum in six games.

The source also said there has been no sighting of former San Beda College mentor Frankie Lim, at least not yet. “Somebody told me he would apply but no application yet,” the source said.

An interesting applicant is former Maroon Mike Bravo, UP’s leading scorer in Season 65 who played briefly in the PBA. Bravo, however, has no prior head coaching experience in any major league.

Also trying their luck are virtual unknowns Alan Walls and Christensen Servas.

Interested parties can still submit their application up to November 28.