MANILA – Goldwyn Monteverde has formally accepted his new designation as the head coach of the University of the Philippines men's basketball team (UPMBT).
Monteverde, a multi-titled coach in the high school ranks, said on Wednesday that being in a collegiate team is a dream come true.
"I am very grateful and deeply honored for my recent appointment as the new UPMBT head coach. It has been my dream to coach at the college level after years of success at the juniors level," Monteverde said through a statement.
A daunting task awaits Monteverde, who also coached in the club ranks as the Batangas City Athletics head coach during the first half of the MPBL Lakan Season, as he now looks to sustain UP's recent winning form.
After being in the cellar during the late 2000s and the early 2010s, the team became a University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) title contender in just four seasons under Coach Bo Perasol.
Monteverde will be replacing Perasol as the Fighting Maroons' chief tactician.
Perasol said the coaching change came at an opportune time as they are essentially on a rebuild ahead of UAAP Season 84 tentatively happening early next year.
Some of the key players of UP's recent surge like Paul Desiderio and the Gomez De Liano Brothers have all turned pro, and the status of two others, namely Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero, are both hanging in the balance too amid offers of joining the play-for-pay ranks as well.
Good thing for Monteverde, three of his former players at the Nazareth School of National University, Carl Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano, and Terrence Fortea, have all committed to UP.
Also coming in are transfer students Malick Diouf, CJ Cansino, and Joel Cagulangan.
"It should be noted that a UP head coach takes both coaching and management functions. All these factors have to be considered in addition to the coach's competence, experience, and disposition. Personally, it is the right decision under the present circumstance," Perasol said in a separate statement.
However, Perasol will remain with UP as he was named their development program head.
The UP College of Human Kinetics (CHK) has assured both coaches of the needed help in the transition process.
"The CHK Varsity Sports Program will work closely with Coach Goldwyn, Coach Bo, and the team management to ensure the transition and work on sustaining the program moving forward will be realized," said Ralph Ramos, the Maroons' varsity sports program chief. (PNA)
