Push Admin

MPBL: Coaching in fledgling league has been ‘rewarding’ for Chris Gavina

Article (news)

Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/02/10/mpbl.jpg"/></figure></div>For Valenzuela Classic-Yulz head coach Chris Gavina, it feels good to be able to steer his team to the quarterfinals of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Anta Rajah Cup.“You know it’s been completely rewarding with this extremely young Valenzuela team. A lot of guys here are not necessarily the highest skilled or ranked in talent but these guys have really been committed to a level of work that I’m really grateful for,” Gavina told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview on Wednesday night.Valenzuela and Quezon City Capitals-Royal Manila are tied in their best-of-3 series, with the Classic winning Game 1 96-89 but losing Game 2 76-68.Game 3 is on Tuesday in Batangas city.The last time Gavina made it past the elimination round of a tournament was when Kia Picanto, known as Mahindra Enforcer at the time, reached the quarterfinals of the 2016 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup.Things went downhill from there for Gavina, who took over from Manny Pacquiao as Kia head coach. The losses piled up, victories were hard to come by, and his frustration over his players&#x27; lack of effort was <a href="https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/news/chris-gavina-believes-extra-effort-enough-for-talent-starved-kia-to-compete">well-publicized</a>.Gavina has moved on from those days and in interviews now chooses to talk about the present.His mind is clearly on Valenzuela&#x27;s task at hand.“We looked too far ahead to quickly and Quezon City is not the team that you can do that with,” Gavina acknowledged, describing his team&#x27;s current series. “They fought their hearts out and they wanted it more than us in Game 2 and it showed.”“I just explained it to them that we got to turn it into a brawl, you can’t win pretty all the time.”Valenzuela sorely missed the services of team captain Paolo Hubalde, who had to sit out to rest an injury. But the team skipper will be back on Tuesday and Gavina is counting on him.“He’s just two days back in practice and I see a big improvement in our composure and how we approach this last game. Paolo will be ready to go,” he said.Already in the semifinal round are the Batangas Athletics, who swept the Bataan Defenders, and the Muntinlupa Cagers, who also brought out the broom against the Navotas Clutch.The Bulacan Kuyas and the Parañaque Patriots, set for a deciding Game 3 in their series, are disputing the fourth semifinals ticket.For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>

For the Valenzuela Classic-Yulz head coach, it feels good to be able to steer his team to the quarterfinals of the Anta Rajah Cup.

For the Valenzuela Classic-Yulz head coach, it feels good to be able to steer his team to the quarterfinals of the Anta Rajah Cup.

MPBL: Coaching in fledgling league has been ‘rewarding’ for Chris Gavina

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

MPBL: Coaching in fledgling league has been ‘rewarding’ for Chris Gavina

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 29, 2018 02:00 PM PHT

|

Updated March 29, 2018 02:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Chris Gavina

Valenzuela Classic

Quezon City Capitals

quarterfinals

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.