David hiring gains support
Senator Joel Villanueva lauded the decision of University of Santo Tomas (UST) to hire its former star playmaker — Bal David — as its men’s basketball coach for the upcoming season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
Villanueva said David’s experience, leadership, maturity and school loyalty make him a perfect choice to serve as head coach of the Growling Tigers starting in Season 85 of the UAAP wars.
UST’s basketball program was in disarray for the past couple of years.
Shortly after Aldin Ayo led the Growling Tigers to the finals, the program was flattened in the wake of the infamous “Sorsogon bubble,” prompting star players like CJ Cansino, Rhenz Abando, Brent Paraiso and Mark Nonoy to transfer to other schools.
With that, Ayo’s chief assistant, Jino Manansala, took the coaching cudgels, but he also failed to lead the crippled Tigers back to Final Four.
Now, the 49-year-old David had been appointed and he immediately drew the support of his former teammate — Villanueva.
“Amid the enormous hurdles that challenge the UST Tigers right now, Bal David is the most fit and suitable to coach the team,” said Villanueva, recalling
David’s clutch free throw in Game 3 of their 1994 UAAP finals best-of-three series against De La Salle University.
“What a better way to make a comeback and make the UST Tigers a force to reckon with once more with Bal David.”
Villanueva said David’s long experience in the Philippine Basketball Association can help UST regain its glory.
“I can’t wait to see him coach and use his decades of experience in the PBA to rebuild our team,” he said.
What a better way to make a comeback and make the UST Tigers a force to reckon with once more with Bal David.
“I guess I speak for all Thomasians. We are all excited to see ‘The Flash,’ the Legend, and the former point guard of Barangay Ginebra, lead the Growling Tigers to the top.”
Villanueva said he can attest to David’s competence as a leader.
“I can attest to this because I have known Bal for a long time,” said Villanueva, referring to David, whose brother, Bernie, also used to coach the UST high school team.
“We played together in high school and then again in college for three years. I have seen with my own eyes how the difficulties of life transformed him into the person and the basketball player that he is.”