By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors’ UAAP men’s basketball off-season overhaul is still making major headlines in the collegiate hoops scene after acquiring the services of former PBA star Alex Cabagnot as the newest addition to their talented pool of coaching staff.
The school’s big-time signing was confirmed on February 24, 2025, after the official Facebook page of the UAAP basketball squad posted a photo of Cabagnot wearing a UE tee together with head coach Chris Gavina.
With that being said, Cabagnot’s new venture focusing on his coaching career made his PBA departure official and was also verified by his previous mother franchise, the Converge FiberXers, via a social media update.
“Thank you, Cabaggie. You may be hanging up the jersey, but your legacy remains both in the Converge FiberXers and in the PBA. Thank you, Alex Cabagnot,” posted the PBA franchise.
In UE, Cabagnot will be fortifying a star-studded coaching staff led by Gavina, alongside former PBA veterans KG Canaleta and Paulo Hubalde.
Despite retirement updates already going viral after Converge’s social media post, Cabagnot himself is yet to confirm whether he is really retiring for good or will just spend one UAAP season and return to the big boys’ league.
Before the appointment of Cabagnot, Canaleta, and Hubalde as the men on the deputy coaching staff, UE first signed Gavina, a decorated coach both in the PBA and on the international stage.
Indeed, Gavina boasts an impressive track record after turning heads when he made his coaching debut in the PBA mentoring the Mahindra Enforcer/KIA Picanto basketball team.
After his stint with Mahindra, Gavina was called up by the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and became their assistant coach from 2018-2020, before assuming top coaching duties in the 2021 season.
Gavina further boosted his coaching expertise when he made noise in the international scene as he signed a deal with the Taichung Suns competing in the Taiwanese professional basketball league.
He also manned the sidelines for the Taiwan Mustangs basketball club which competed in The Asian Tournament held in the Philippines several months ago.
Gavina will replace UE’s long-time head coach Jack Santiago who took over the coaching helm last 2022.
During Santiago’s tenure as a head coach, he failed to help the Red Warriors return to the UAAP Final Four and amassed a win-loss record of 15-41.
