By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of the East had its last glory days in the 1980’s, winning three titles spanning from 1982 to 1985. At the heart of that golden run stood Allan Caidic — the man many still regard as the greatest shooter Philippine basketball has ever produced.
Four decades later, the legend has come home.
Caidic is returning to the Recto-based program, tasked with helping resurrect a Red Warriors squad that has been chasing relevance — and respect — for 46 long years since its last title.
The 62-year-old Caidic is bolstering the coaching staff under head coach Chris Gavina after being tapped as the men’s basketball team consultant.
A contract signing was held last Tuesday, with school’s top officials also gracing the event in UE president and chief academic officer Dr. Zosimo M. Battad, SVP Florence O. Siy, PE director Leo Robert Viajar, assistant PE dir. Lovelyn Yee, sports coordinator Melvin Reyes and legal counsel Atty. Sarah Jane C. Macahilas.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity given by the UE management for making me a part of the UE basketball program,” said Caidic in his interview with the school’s student publication, the UE Dawn.
“As a former player, I want to give UE the respect they deserve, so many years na nagdaan… parang nawala na ‘yong glory days before… it’s more of the respect first and syempre we have to do a lot of adjustments.”
Caidic, a multi-champion in the collegiate and professional ranks, will be working closely with Gavina, and assistant coaches and former Warriors themselves, Paulo Hubalde and KG Canaleta.
Caidic, however, will have a daunting task of building UE to become an immediate title contender around Wello Lingolingo especially following the departure of Precious Momowei and John Abate
Far from its stature a few decades ago, the Red Warriors suffered a huge blow in the previous edition where they finished dead last with a 0-14 card – the second time in team’s history.
But UE showed promise in Season 87 after notching a superb 5-2 win-loss record that ultimately went down the drain after only winning once in its next seven games, 6-8, to fall short anew in the Final Four.
