Coach Joe: I’m Ready

By Joel Orellana
Business Mirror
September 17, 2007

Joe Lipa is ready to face the consequences for failing to give University of the Philippines (UP) a victory in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball’s 70th season.

Lipa, who steered the Fighting Maroons to their first and only UAAP title in 1986, was calm and collected when interviewed by BusinessMirror to share his thoughts on the uneventful campaign of the Diliman-based squad this year.

“Just like any son of UP, I will welcome their decision. I won’t stand in the way of anybody whom they think can do better for the team,” said Lipa as rumors have been circulating that he is on his way out as head coach of UP.

“I will always respect the decision of the university officials because I know the utmost good of the university is what they have in mind,” Lipa added.

The Fighting Maroons went 0-14 this season, first since the Falcons of coach Luigi Trillo passed by the embarrassing rout in back-to-back fashions in 2000 and 2001, easily raising a discussion for a looming coaching change in the State University.

There were even reports that former Philippine Basketball Association champion coach Eric Altamirano, a member of Lipa’s 1986 champion squad, and Allan Gregorio, Air21’s assistant coach, are being eyed to take the job.

Lipa was quoted that he had a “gentleman’s handshake” with university officials and that his contract will still expire next year, when UP celebrates its centennial anniversary.

But there are people in the UP community who want Lipa’s head as they clamor for a better showing next season—one they felt the multititled mentor couldn’t do.

“There are faceless people who are working for my ouster,” Lipa admitted. “There has been a text brigade, there are people talking to media people to talk about me. Some even have the guts to talk behind my back of so many things. You know, that’s part of the job.”

“However, my appointment is made by the UP-Diliman chancellor by the authority imbedded in him by the Board of Regents. I have to wait for what will be the decision of the people who appointed me,” he added.

Despite a winless season, Lipa, one of the few local coaches who became successful in the international and local arena, believed that he had done something positive for the team.

“When I got the job, I’ve been hired to do what’s good for the university. I was given the chance to serve the university again, and I think I served it well in all of my actions and decisions. I have in mind what’s good for the university,” said Lipa.

Unfortunately, those who measure success with “W” do not agree with the temperamental mentor though Lipa confessed that he’s also disappointed with their performance this season.

“Honestly speaking, I was expecting that we will perform better. But all of the pieces just fell against us,” said Lipa, who also handled Ateneo for three seasons prior to his reentry with the Fighting Maroons.

“We see the problem, I know the solution. But the solutions, we just could not implement this season,” he said.

Judging the numbers, the Fighting Maroons looked terrible in finding the solutions as UP finished last in almost all categories based on the statistics provided by Smart Bro-powered Soho Connect, the league’s official statistical group.

In the double-round eliminations, UP was worst in offense (66.4 per game), defense (87.8 ppg allowed), assists (9.7), steals (3.9), turnovers (20.4), second chance points (5.9).

The Fighting Maroons’ average losing margin was 20.8, the biggest since the statistical group began computerizing the stats in 2003. UP was also involved in four of the five most lopsided defeats this season.

Their biggest loss, and of the season, came at the hands of early unbeaten finalist University of the East by 40 points, 59-99 in the second round. The Maroons also absorbed a 66-97 decision to Ateneo and 61-89 rout to La Salle, all in the second round.

In the UP’s 14 games, 11 of those they lost by double digits. Its closest match was against Far Eastern University (82-87) on August 5.