Letran coach Bonnie Tan gives instructions to his players. NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Multi-titled mentor Bonnie Tan stepped down as head coach of the Letran Knights on Sunday.
Tan is set to be replaced by his deputy Rensy Bajar. Bajar will be officially announced as Tan’s successor on Monday.
“Coach Rensy has been with us during the three-peat era and I’m confident that he can sustain the winning culture that we have built with the Knights,” said Tan.
Leaving Letran means Tan will be solely focused on his head coaching job at NorthPort in the PBA. The Batang Pier, in their first conference with Tan at the helm, failed to make the playoffs in the recently-concluded Governors’ Cup won by the TNT Tropang Giga.
The 50-year-old Tan, who called the shots for Letran from 2019 to 2022, steered the Knights to three straight NCAA championships.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities that Letran has afforded me. I’m deeply appreciative of how the community has welcomed me since I came on board and being considered as an honorary Letranite will always be one of the biggest achievements I could ever receive,” said Tan, who amassed a 44-13 record including playoffs with Letran.
Tan and Letran completed a three-peat after knocking off College of St. Benilde in Game 3 of the NCAA Season 98 Finals four months ago.
The Knights, under Tan, also pulled off a 12-0 sweep for back-to-back NCAA titles in Season 97 last May where they dispatched the Mapua Cardinals in the championship round.