The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced that veteran tactician Juno Sauler has been appointed head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth Men’s team, entrusting him with the next phase of the national youth pipeline.

Sauler steps into the role with more than 30 years of coaching experience spanning grassroots, high school, collegiate, and professional basketball, giving SBP a familiar figure who understands both development and winning.

His coaching résumé includes five PBA championships as an assistant coach and four UAAP titles as a head coach, three in the women’s division and one in the men’s. SBP officials said that blend of success and teaching background made him an ideal fit for the youth program’s long-term goals.

Grassroots advocacy shapes Sauler’s vision

Despite his years at the highest levels, Sauler has remained closely tied to grassroots basketball across the country. He has consistently advocated against the use of zone defense in youth competitions to help young players build strong fundamentals and defensive awareness early.

That advocacy has brought Sauler to different regions nationwide, allowing him to work directly with local coaches and youth programs. SBP views those connections as critical in identifying talent beyond traditional pipelines.

Sauler currently serves as an assistant coach for the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in the PBA and for the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the UAAP. He takes over from Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio, who will continue with the youth program as an adviser.

High-stakes year awaits Gilas Youth

SBP president Ricky Vargas said Sauler’s experience and nationwide reach will help assemble the strongest possible youth lineup. The federation expects close coordination with the Talent Identification and Grassroots Development Program led by Norman Black.

Preparation begins immediately for the 2026 SEABA Under-18 Championship, where the top two teams will qualify for the FIBA Under-18 Asia Cup. From there, the top four finishers will earn spots in the 2027 FIBA Basketball Under-19 World Cup.