UP Fighting Maroons get new basketball coach

The University of the Philippines men’s basketball team, hounded by coaching woes in the last few months, has a new mentor in its fold. Aboy Castro, an unknown figure in UP basketball, will now call the shots for a Maroons squad aching to get back into the collegiate basketball limelight after a dismal 0-14 finish at the 70th UAAP men’s basketball championship last year. Sources said the decision to name Castro as the new basketball head coach came after a grueling deliberation by UP sports officials. The other candidates, all of them UP alumni, were interviewed on Friday morning (February 8) by the search committee, which included Patrick Aquino, Dayong Mendoza, Duane Salvatera, and Jojo Villa. Deliberations were held immediately after the interviews, and a decision was made three days later with UP Chancellor Sergio S. Cao, who had the last say on the matter, a source said. Who is Castro? Castro was an assistant to new Talk 'N' Text head Chot Reyes who handled the Philippine national team that competed in a number of tournaments last year, including the FIBA-Asia championships in September. He was also assistant to Reyes in the latter's Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) stint with the Coca-Cola Tigers. Castro became an assistant to Far Eastern University (FEU) head coach Glenn Capacio, in last year’s UAAP basketball tournament. Insiders from UP said that Castro, a graduate of Philippine Science High School with a chemical engineering degree from UP Diliman, only played in collegiate intramural tourneys and never played varsity ball. But he was such a basketball nerd that he decided to attend coaching clinics, in one of which he met Reyes. This eventually opened the door for him to a coaching profession. Coaching experience to be tested For some die-hard UP basketball fans, Castro's lack of head coaching experience is the biggest concern, especially since their team has not bagged a crown since 1986. "But there's no questioning his intellect and work ethic," a source, who requested not to be named, said. "If he gets a strong and experienced staff to support him, I think he'll do fine – as long as we don't expect him to work overnight miracles. If UP is indeed serious, this time, about the basketball program, they should give him what they didn't give Joe Lipa – a three-year contract." Another problem facing the UP squad is how to keep the lineup intact after the departure of one of its top player – big-man Soc Rivera – who has already transferred to the Adamson Falcons. "Isa yan sa dapat niyang ayusin," the source said. "Kailangan mare-organize ang team at makapag-practice kagad with the UAAP less than five months away." Bad year under Lipa In September 2007, UP sports officials decided to ax former 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. 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. However, 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. Among the coaches whose names hade earlier been floated to replace Lipa were 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