Gavina eyes Final 4 for Red Warriors

MANILA, Philippines — Reviving the long-lost winning tradition of the University of the East is the ultimate goal for new head coach Chris Gavina.

But Gavina, a former PBA mentor, sets out with a realistic mission in his collegiate debut, hoping first for a Final Four appearance in the UAAP Season 88 firing off on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

“The ultimate goal doesn’t change. Of course, we want to put ourselves in the conversation of being in the Final Four. That’s what we’ve been working hard for,” Gavina, who replaced Jack Santiago last February, told The STAR as he braces for an entirely different landscape from his stint in professional leagues.

Gavina, 46, is one of the most respected up-and-coming coaches here and abroad, having mentored Mahindra and Rain or Shine in the PBA and the Taichung Suns in Taiwan’s T1 League.

Coaching younger players in the UAAP, however, will be a lot different endeavor he’s more than willing to embrace – all for the mission of ending UE’s 16-year Final Four drought.

“Expectation-wise, it’s like everybody else and that’s trying to get the best out of the individuals to become leaders. That’s my goal going in,” said Gavina.