JINO MANANSALA confirmed to BusinessMirror on Thursday evening that he was named interim head coach of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers.
“Yes, I am sir, that’s confirmed for now,” Manansala said in a phone interview from his residence in Caloocan.
Manansala beat nine applicants for the position left vacant when Aldin Ayo resigned in the aftermath of the controversial Sorsogon City bubble. He was one of Ayo’s assistant coaches.
He was chosen from a list that included 1996 Philippine Basketball Association Best Import Sean Chambers, Chris Gavina, Gilbert Lao, Aris Dimaunahan, Estong Ballesteros, Lenny Reyes, Ed Cordero, Potit de Vera and Chris Daleo.
“It’s challenging times now so far. So we are in a rebuilding stage and back to square one after losing a lot of players,” said Manansala, who led St. Clare to four National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities titles.
“I am grateful that they [UST] still believe our mayhem basketball program.” Manansala, also the former coach of the UST Cubs in 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, UST’s newly-appointed Institute of Physical Education and Athletics head, on Thursday afternoon.
It was at Fr. Cansancio’s office where he was told about his appointment to coach the team.
In the middle of the interview, Manansala asked the BusinessMirror to clarify that his first name is Jino—and not Jinino or Jinno as stated 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.