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Former players pay tribute to late basketball coach Lawrence Chongson
Former University of the East men's basketball head coach Lawrence Chongson passed away on Sunday due to a heart attack.
The news was confirmed by the University of the East (UE) on social media. He was 57 years old.
Chongson joined the UE Red Warriors as an assistant coach in 2001 under then head tactician Itoy Esguerra. He then returned to the Recto-based squad in 2009 and steered the red-and-white squad to the UAAP Season 72 Finals against eventual champions Ateneo de Manila University.
He also became the active consultant of the Red Warriors back in 2019 in UAAP Season 82. His friend, the late coach Bong Tan, called the shots for the Recto-based squad that season.
Chongson also held teams in other leagues such as the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association, Philippine Basketball League, and the PBA D-League.
"Coach Chongson's tireless work, on- and off-court, in coaching one of the most storied teams in UAAP history greatly helped fuel the perpetual hope and dream of countless Red Warriors fans—of many a younger generation’s longing to bear witness to their own basketball heroes’ triumph over peer schools’ own men’s basketball teams, and of many an elder generation’s yearning for echoes of past UAAP victories in Lualhati’s name," UE said in its tribute to Chongson.
Some of UE's standout players such as Paul Lee and Roi Sumang also played under Chongson's watch.
As the news of Chongson's death was reported, former UE players paid tribute to the late coach.
Gilas Pilipinas player and former Red Warrior Rey Suerte took to Facebook his message for the late coach.
"Maraming salamat sa lahat ng naitulong mo sa akin at sa aking pamilya, Coach Lawrence Chongson," Suerte wrote in his social media post.
Suerte's teammate, Philip Manalang, took to Instagram his tribute to the late coach.
Biboy Enguio, who was Paul Lee's teammate back in their collegiate stint, also penned his message of gratitude to the former UE head coach.
"Rest in peace, coach Lawrence Chongson. Salamat sa mga turo and pagbibigay ng opportunity sa'kin nung panahong nasa UE pa ako. Salamat, coach," he wrote.
Chongson's death comes a week after San Beda high school coach Ato Badolato passed away.
—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News
