ERIC Altamirano has taken his name out of the running in the University of the East's coaching hunt.
The decorated mentor said that he has personally excused himself from the search owing to his prior commitments, believing that if he were to take the Red Warriors job, he has to commit to the endeavor full-time.
"I appreciate those who have vouched for me and I would have loved the opportunity to coach again in the UAAP. However, with the responsibilities that I have for the time being, I have respectfully declined from being considered in the head coaching search for the University of the East program," he said.
Altamirano is the program director of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC), which is now in its 15th season and is in the midst of its Regional Championships - a buildup to the National Finals which will be held this March.
PHOTO: NBTC
He is also helping his son Anton who is the head coach of Gilas Pilipinas Women 3x3, as well as Ryan Monteclaro who is the head coach of Pilipinas Aguilas in the Women's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL), on top of being one of the resident analysts for Cignal TV in the PBA broadcasts.
The soft-spoken mentor last coached in the UAAP when he handled National University from 2011 to 2016 and led the Bulldogs to their historic championship in Season 77 back in 2014.
PHOTO: Jaime Campos
Altamirano shared that UE has, indeed, reached out to him about the possibility of taking the job, and although those prospects excited him, he has already called Red Warriors team manager Jean Alabanza on Friday to share his decision.
In the end, he's hopeful that the Recto squad finds the right coach who can man their rebuild.
"I wish UE nothing but the best in their continued search for a head coach who can steer them back to the top," he ended.
2025-01-24T10:14:39Z