New UE coach Chris Gavina places Warriors in ‘kaizen’ mindset

Underneath new head coach Chris Gavina, the UE Pink Warriors hope for ‘steady enchancment day-to-day’ as they intention to lastly finish their 16-year UAAP Remaining 4 drought

MANILA, Philippines – Protection can be the secret for the UE Pink Warriors once they kick off their marketing campaign within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball match this weekend. 

Led by new head coach Chris Gavina, rely on the Pink Warriors to place a premium on protection as they intention to lastly finish their 16-year Remaining 4 drought after developing brief final season. 

“You’ll be able to anticipate a really relentlessly defensive-minded staff this 12 months. I feel the day-to-day self-discipline and habits that we labored on can be showcased on this Season 88,” Gavina informed Rappler through the league’s press convention. 

In Season 87, the Pink Warriors had a number of possibilities to e book a Remaining 4 ticket for the primary time since 2009 following a robust 5-2 begin within the first spherical, however did not capitalize on the chance as they ended the season on a six-game shedding skid, capped by a 68-55 beating by the hands of the Adamson Hovering Falcons within the fourth-seed playoff. 

This 12 months, with Gavina on the helm, the Pink Warriors are additionally coming into the season with a special form of method, specializing in enchancment and taking issues one step at a time.  

“Expectations-wise, we’re form of simply going into the video games with a kaizen (change for the higher) sort of mentality, simply steady enchancment day-to-day, simply being within the second form of mindset, and never making an attempt to miss issues,” stated Gavina, the previous head coach of Rain or Shine and Mahindra within the PBA.  

“I informed these guys in our staff constructing this weekend about breaking it down to at least one possession at a time, one choice at a time, and the outcomes will handle itself,” he added. 

Regardless of the departure of key gamers like Rainer Maga, Devin Fikes, Jack Cruz-Dumont, Ethan Galang, and Gjerard Wilson, UE nonetheless has its trio of John Abate, Wello Lingolingo, and overseas student-athlete Valuable Momowei — whom Gavina expects to paved the way for the Pink Warriors this season. 

Final 12 months, Momowei ended up fifth within the statistical race after averaging 12.7 factors and 13.7 rebounds per contest, however was disqualified from the person awards for the second 12 months in a row because of his one-game suspension late within the season. 

“Our veterans Abate, Lingolingo, and Momowei have actually emerged as leaders of this staff. I’ve empowered them to set our customary they usually’ve performed an incredible job thus far going into the season,” stated Gavina. 

UE opens its Season 88 marketing campaign in opposition to the NU Bulldogs at 2 pm on Sunday, September 21, on the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. – Rappler.com