Romwel Anzures

Basketball, UAAP, ABSSports, UAAP Season 88, UAAP Basketball

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772592967109att.zifGigPrk-rlUL_Wn3_yrNvvzJlH-ZWZw_1jC3gBa10.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Handout photo/UP OASD.MANILA — A University of the Philippines (UP) legend is returning to his roots, this time tasked with steering the Fighting Maroons women’s basketball team to greater heights.</div>Eric Altamirano was formally introduced on Wednesday as the new head coach of the Fighting Maroons, bannered by Gilas Pilipinas Women standouts Louna Ozar and Camille Nolasco, along with veteran scorer Kaye Pesquera.“I’ve come full circle. This is my way of giving back to the school that gave me the opportunity to start my playing career and coaching career,” said Altamirano, who helped lead UP to the UAAP men’s basketball championship in 1986.Altamirano later coached the UP Men’s Basketball Team in 1996 before moving on to successful stints in the PBA with Purefoods, Mobiline, and Coca-Cola. He also handled National University and ended a 60-year title drought in 2014.Now back in Diliman, Altamirano hopes to replicate that success but is tempering expectations as he builds on the foundation laid by predecessor Paul Ramos.“I’ve been involved with women’s basketball for the last three years and I fell in love with it. There’s a certain challenge in helping women’s basketball continue its rise, especially for my alma mater,” he said.Altamirano served as consultant for Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 Women starting in 2023 and for the Pilipinas Aguilas in the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League beginning in 2025.“Of course, our long-term plan is to bring UP to the mountaintop. But for now, we have to continue taking the necessary steps to get there. What we want is sustainable competitiveness,” he added.The 59-year-old coach succeeds Ramos, who spent seven years at the helm and guided the team to steady progress, highlighted by a Final Four appearance in UAAP Season 86.Ramos, along with assistants April Bartolome, Kooky Binamira, Bryan Enrado, Marsha Faustino, Carl Lazaro, Emman Papa, and Aldrin Ranara, also mentored Ozar to two Mythical Team selections and helped pave the way for Rookie of the Year Favour Onoh to move to the U.S. NCAA.“Laking pasasalamat natin kay coach Paul for giving seven years of his life to the WBT. Because of him and his staff, the pieces are already in place for us,” said UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol.“Confident tayo that UP can be a contender in women’s basketball, and we believe we have found the right leader to prove that next season,” he added.Altamirano will bring in assistants Jeff Perlas, Paolo Layug, Anton Altamirano, and Gilas Women mainstay Mikka Cacho as UP looks to bounce back from a 3-11 record and a seventh-place finish last season, which turned out to be Ramos’ final year with the team.

A UP legend is returning to his roots, this time tasked with steering the women’s basketball team to greater heights. #UAAPSeason89

A UP legend is returning to his roots, this time tasked with steering the women’s basketball team to greater heights. #UAAPSeason89

UAAP: Eric Altamirano set for UP homecoming, named new women’s hoops coach

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UAAP: Eric Altamirano set for UP homecoming, named new women’s hoops coach

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 04, 2026 11:24 AM PHT

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Updated Mar 04, 2026 11:25 AM PHT

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Eric Altamirano

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