MANILA, Philippines — Former deputy coach Segundo “Bong” dela Cruz III hopes his familiarity with the players and the system will be his strong suit when he takes over as head coach of the University of Santo Tomas Tigers in this season’s UAAP basketball tournament.
Dela Cruz, who will assume the post vacated by Pido Jarencio, has already been introduced to the players after his recent appointment by university rector Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, OP, school officials said yesterday.
“I’ve been with the team for two years and there won’t be much change,” said Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz has also worked for 12 years as the basketball program head and men’s basketball coach of La Consolacion, which topped the Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association in 2013.
The 42-year-old Dela Cruz also played for UST as a Tiger Cubs standout in the late ’80s, before he moved to Adamson where he played alongside Marlou Aquino, Kenneth Duremdes and EJ Feihl.
Over at University of the East, however, sources said Boycie Zamar has been sacked yesterday as head coach of its men’s basketball squad. The school has yet to release an official statement.
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Source: Dela Cruz is new UST coach