UP sports execs ax Maroons' basketball coach Joe Lipa

Sports officials of the University of the Philippines (UP) finally decided to ax embattled basketball head coach Joe Lipa after the Fighting Maroons' disappointing performance at the 70th UAAP men's basketball tournament. In 1986, it was Lipa who guided the Maroons in their first ever basketball crown. Unfortunately, the current team chalked up a 0-14 win-loss card. On learning of the decision, Lipa said his firing had been in the offing, even long before the team officially ended its basketball season almost two weeks ago. His firing only took about three minutes to take. "I'm taking it philosophically," Lipa told GMANews.TV on Friday. "Basketball has been so nice to me. I've created a lot of friends. By the same token, I've created a lot of enemies. I told them [sports officials] that I tried my best to serve UP. I don't want to stand in the way of what they think is good for the university." Officials of the UP College of Human Kinetics held a brief meeting last Thursday regarding Lipa's status and the team's future, especially in 2008 with UP hosting the 71st season of the UAAP. Hercules Callanta, dean of the College of Human Kinetics, will recommend the formal termination of Lipa's services to the UP chancellor. The usually fiery coach only had a "handshake agreement" with school officials to mentor the Maroons until 2008, the university's centennial anniversary. Lipa took over from coach Lito Vergara in 2006, the fourth time he coached the Maroons. As to his coaching style, which many basketball pundits say is outdated, Lipa said: "I'm strong as a bull physically and my mind is exactly as it was 20 years ago. I devised a program centered on 2008 – the training regimen, the recruitment plans, the training of the players individually and as a team. But a lot of things happened beyond my control. I cannot resolve it." Lipa said his concerns included financial constraints and the fact that his squad had a lot of rookies. "It was a big factor," he said. "When you recruit, you're putting a price tag on the player." Lipa had not yet informed his players of his firing. In their final game against the Adamson University Falcons last Saturday, the Maroons taped "I Love Joe" notes on their jerseys. The Maroons lost their games by an average of 20.8 points, including the most lopsided loss in the last five years – 40 points, 99-59, to the University of the East Warriors. Save for three games, the Maroons lost all their matches in double figures. "My only regret is my dream to devise a training program, a philosophy where Filipinos will excel in international competition, did not materialize," Lipa said. Among the coaches whose names are being floated to replace Lipa are Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano – both members of Lipa's 1986 UP champion squad – Air21 assistant coach Allan Gregorio, and University of Santo Tomas assistant mentor Beaujing Acot. - GMANews.TV