Vergara appointed UP Maroons coach

The University of the Philippines has tapped Lito Vergara as the Maroons’ head coach after steering the Preps to a first-ever UAAP high school cage title last season over the Ateneo Eaglets.

The announcement was made yesterday by the UP search committee chaired by chancellor Emerlinda Roman with former PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino, Batang Red Bull mentor Joseller "Yeng" Guiao, ex-UP coach Rey Madrid and community member Gil Gotiangco as members.

Vergara, an assistant to last year’s coach Allan Gregorio, was a member of the UP varsity team for four years starting in 1987, the year after the Joe Lipa-mentored Maroons won their last UAAP seniors cage title.

Reports have it that the committee was impressed with Vergara’s credentials as coach, particularly after he engineered a stunning UP High title victory over fancied Ateneo for the UAAP crown in the 2002 season.

Vergara edged Jojo Villa and Ricky Dandan, who both coached in the defunct MBA, and former Cheeseball-Shark assistant coach Dayong Mendoza for the coaching job.