Chris Gavina begins UE Red Warriors’ transformation with a defense-first mindset

by Brian Yalung

The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors hope to hire Chris Gavina as their head coach. Known for his defense-first mindset on the basketball court, the veteran mentor hopes his structured systems and emphasis on discipline will help bring the Red Warriors back to glory.

Aware that UE is known for its offensive savvy, Gavina admitted that he will try to strike a balance. He believes that a strong defensive foundation will be a big help without compromising his players’ freedom to express themselves offensively.

Can Chris Gavina lead UE back to the Final Four? The new season will be a test of his system. [photo credit: Chris Gavina Facebook]

“You gotta move with the trends sometimes,” Gavina acknowledged in an exclusive interview with Sports Bytes Philippines. “But then again, I’m old school in the fact that I’ll give my players all the creative freedom on the offensive side in our structured system. But early on, I will define our defensive reality in regards to our technique, our rotations. I want perfect pick-and-roll defensive schemes in regards to our rules and principles. So, yeah, I will be bringing my identity as a defensive-minded coach to UE for sure.”

Inspired by UE’s Championship Legacy

When he was offered the position, Gavina did his research. He was awed by the Red Warriors’ basketball history, particularly the legacy of the legendary coach Baby Dalupan.

“The sheer thought of being one of the coaches that’s gonna be followed in the history books of a Baby Dalupan, with 12 championships, seven straight, that really intrigued me,” he shared. “That, to me, was one of the primary reasons I wanted this opportunity.”

Building on Last Season’s Progress

Gavina also weighed in on the last UAAP performance of the Red Warriors. UE came within one win of breaking their 16-year Final Four drought last season, and Chris believes the pieces are in place for a breakthrough.

“I‘m impressed. The fact that they were one game away from getting back to the Final Four just goes to show that there are pieces already in place for me to maximize and see where they fit in my system,” he said. However, he stressed that being close is not enough. “At the end of the day, there are no moral victories. All you’re gonna be remembered for is that you came up short, and that’s what we’re trying to avoid now.”

A Culture of Courage, Respect, and Relentless Effort

Beyond X’s and O’s, Gavina wants to establish a culture that defines the Red Warriors. His philosophy is centered on four core values: courage, attitude, respect, and effort.

“We need to embrace and make this our identity,” he emphasized. “We need courage to do the right things every single time, a positive mindset, respect for one another and the work needed, and relentless effort. Lastly, we have to care—care about winning, making teammates better, and representing UE with pride.”

With these values at the core of his leadership, Gavina hopes to instill a winning mindset that will push the Red Warriors beyond just making the Final Four and toward championship contention.

As the UAAP season approaches, UE fans have reason to be optimistic. With Chris Gavina leading the charge, the Red Warriors are ready to claw their way back to the top.

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Brian Yalung

Managing Editor at Sports Bytes PH

Brian Yalung is a long-time writer who covers most sports and technology. He focuses on one-on-one interviews with athletes and organizations, going in-depth. He finished his Masters in Business Administration degree at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Applications at the DLSU-College of St. Benilde.