UE Warriors shopping for new coach

MANILA, Philippines - UAAP Season 77 host University of the East joined the ranks of universities that will come into the next tournament with a new coach after giving David “Boycie” Zamar the boot.

This early, several big names are reportedly being considered for the vacant post, including living legend Robert Jaworski, Derrick Pumaren, Jimmy Mariano, Nat Canson, and former players George Ella and Luis Palaganas.

UE hopes to announce Zamar’s replacement by next week. This would make the Warriors the third team to make a coaching change, following UST’s hiring of Bong dela Cruz and Adamson’s tapping of Kenneth Duremdes.

Zamar, who called the shots for the Warriors in mid-Season 75 and the whole of Season 76, was dismissed effective April 1 after UE decided it needed a “full-time coach” for the coming campaign it would host. Zamar currently serves as assistant coach with San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association.

“UE management feels that the Red Warriors head coach must be one who will handle the team full-time, without commitment to other teams,” UE Red Warriors team manager and UAAP Season 77 president Carmelita Mateo said in a statement.

The deputies of Zamar were also relieved. 
Some quarters connect Zamar’s sacking to his ties with San Miguel Corp., a corporate rival of UE owner Lucio Tan.

UE has already started a search for a new coach, with six prominent UE alumni, according to a source, making the short list.

Jaworski spent his stellar collegiate career with the Warriors during their glory years in the 1960s and UE seemed intent on giving him a job in the season it is hosting. The Big J is also considered for the role of UAAP commissioner.

Mariano coached the last UE team that won the UAAP title in 1985 while Canson and Pumaren boast of vast coaching experiences in the PBA and other leagues. Ella served in the coaching staff of Coca- Cola and Ginebra and Palaganas played as a forward for UE in 2008.