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JINO MANANSALA confirmed to BusinessMirror on Thursday night that he was named interim head coach of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers.
“Yes, I am sir, that is confirmed for now,” Manansala said in a telephone interview from his residence in Caloocan.
Manansala beat out nine applicants to the position that was vacated when Aldin Ayo resigned in the wake of the controversial Sorsogon City bubble. He was one of Ayo’s assistant coaches.
He was chosen from a list that included Sean Chambers, Chris Gavina, Gilbert Lao, Aris Dimaunahan, Estong Ballesteros, Lenny Reyes, Ed Cordero, Potit de Vera and Chris Daleo from the Philippine Basketball Association for Best Import of 1996.
“These are difficult times now until now. So we are in a rebuilding stage and we are back to square one after losing many players, ”said Manansala, who led St. Clare to four National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities titles.
“I am grateful that [UST] we still believe in our chaotic basketball program. “Manansala, also a former UST Cubs coach at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
Manansala said he is praying for the UAAP to lift the indefinite ban on Ayo.
The new UST coach said he was asked to see Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP, newly appointed director of the UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, on Thursday afternoon.
It was at the P. Despacho de Cansancio where he was informed of his appointment as coach of the team.
In the middle of the interview, Manansala asked BusinessMirror to clarify that his first name is Jino, and not Jinino or Jinno as indicated by other media outlets.
He is the son of 1978 PBA Rookie of the Year Jimmy Manansala, who played for the University of the East Red Warriors.
