The Taichung Suns on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coach Chris Gavina, making him the first Philippine head coach in the T1 League.
The Suns introduced Gavina at a season-opening news conference in Taichung more than two weeks after PBA team the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters posted on social media on Oct. 9 that they had accepted Gavina’s resignation as assistant coach to become head coach of the Suns.
Despite Philippine media reports following the social media post, the Suns did not confirm they had recruited Gavina, saying only that there was going to be a new addition to the coaching staff.
At Tuesday’s news conference, Gavina said he was grateful to the Taichung Suns for appointing him head coach.
“We’re working hard, making sure that we build a championship culture here; it’s going to be based on hard work, discipline and consistency. And to make sure that we provide a very exciting and high-quality brand of basketball to the Taichung Suns organization and to all of our fans,” Gavina said.
“Practice has been very productive in just the short period of time I’ve been here. The players have really responded well to ensuring we build championship habits on a day-to-day basis, and we’re excited to get the league started on Nov. 5 on our home court,” Gavina said.
The Suns said Gavina has been in Taiwan for about a week.
Suns general manager David Wang said he has full confidence in Gavina to produce good results this season, which starts for the Suns with a home game at the National Taiwan University of Sport in Taichung on Saturday next week against defending champions the Kaohsiung Aquas.
Also joining the team this season is 33-year-old former PBA import player Tony Bishop, who played 22 games for the Meralco Bolts from last year to this year, posting a game average of 25.6 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists, while shooting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc.
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