PBA: Gavina quits post as Kia head coach

Chris Gavina and Philip Paniamogan of Kia Picanto (photo by Peter Baltazar)
Chris Gavina and Philip Paniamogan of Kia Picanto (photo by Peter Baltazar)

Chris Gavina, a virtual unknown when he first called the shots for Kia Picanto, has stepped down as head coach for Kia Picanto. Tasked to take over will be veteran coach Ricky Dandan.

“I admire coach Chris both as a coach and person. He acted professionally during the time he was here with the team,” said Lipa in a report from Spin.ph.

The development is the latest in a flurry of controversies that Kia has had the past months. The most celebrated is that trade with the San Miguel Beermen. Picanto surrendered its top pick of the 2017 PBA Draft to the Beermen in exchange for Ronald Tubid, Jay-R Reyes, Rashawn McCarthy and a future pick. SMB used that to pick Fil-German Christian Standhardinger who has yet to suit up from the team.

Back in October, Gavina had wanted to keep the right to the top pick of the 2017 PBA Draft. However, he said in another report by Spin.ph that such was not his call to make. “In my position, you got to kind of life with what you can get sometimes and just look at how we’re going to improve with what we have.”

Impakt Sports Drink (photo by Peter Baltazar)
Impakt Sports Drink (photo by Peter Baltazar)
Gavina is expected to focus on something related to sports – Impakt Power Drink. Not many know that he is a graduate of chemical biology and had previously worked with L’Oreal as a formulation chemist in New Jersey according to Manila Bulletin Sports Online.

“Impakt power drink is formulated to help active people. It has joint supplements in it,” said Gavina. “It is a lot greater substitute for this high caffeine, high sugar energy counterparts.”

At that time, the power drink was still undergoing the necessary steps to gain FDA accreditation. Regardless, Impakt was already available in select areas like Elorde Gyms, Ultimate Fitness, and Iron Den.

Alex Cabagnot of the San Miguel Beermen was chosen to be the primary brand endorser of Impakt Power Drink. According to Gavina, the veteran guard was selected because he “signifies an elite athlete.”

Aside from that, there is no word yet on whether Gavina will return to the PBA scene. He could land a job working as an assistant coach at some point – assuming he still has the time to share his basketball smarts in the pro league.