Jerry Codiñera inherits Lee-less UE Red Warriors

Jerry Codiñera will inherit a University of the East squad minus Paul Lee, the do-it-all playmaker considered to be the heart and soul of a Red Warriors team that was handled for two years by former coach Lawrence Chongson. Codiñera, a member of the last UE team that won back-to-back titles in 1984 and 1985, replaced Chongson after the latter’s contract was not renewed by UE officials when it expired on December 31 last year. Chongson steered the Red Warriors to a finals stint against Ateneo in 2009 but the team finished sixth last season and missed the Final Four for the first time since 2001. Lee, the team's top scorer and Chongson's No. 1 playmaker, decided not to play his final year with the Warriors. Before Chongson's contract wasn't renewed, Lee said he would play his final eligibility year with the Warriors. Word has it that Lee plans to join the Smart Gilas national developmental team of coach Rajko Toroman. "I'm not privy to his (Lee's) plans. It is his career and I can't do anything if he doesn't want to play anymore for UE," said Codiñera, who was known as the Defense Minister in his 17-year Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) career. Lee was UE's top scorer last season, averaging 14.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 3.9 turnovers in the 14 games he played. Aside from Lee, Codiñera also lost six players from the Red Warriors' line-up due to various reasons. Outside gunner James Martinez and gutsy playmaker Raffy Reyes, the son of former pro Elmer Reyes, have already graduated, while big men Sam Razon and Ivan Hernandez are still recovering from various injuries. Also out of the line-up are centers Ezer Rosopa, who turns 26 this year, and Garrick Ayala, who was suspended several times after breaking team rules. Codiñera still optimistic Despite losing Lee and six others, Codiñera still believes he can build a strong and competitive team in time for the UAAP's 74th season. "If you ask me, it's a tough job for me since we have to start from scratch. But since I accepted the job, I might as well do my best to realize the reason why the school management chose me as the coach," said Codiñera, who holds the single-game shot block record in the PBA with 11. "We are conducting open tryouts so those who want to play for the Red Warriors can visit us at the Tanduay gym and show their skills. If we like what we see, then they are likely to become members of the team." He added that his current roster even defeated La Salle in their game in the ongoing Fr. Martin Cup. "La Salle is one of the top teams in the UAAP, along with Ateneo and FEU. In other words, my team has the skills to go up against them," said Codiñera. Codiñera, who had his coaching debut with the Teletech Titans in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) in 2006, said he wanted to transform the squad from a purely offensive team to a running but defensive-minded unit. "As a center when I was still playing, my job was to defend the paint and get those rebounds to set the stage for our transition plays." Reviving UE's lost glory Codiñera, who played alongside PBA all-time three-point-shot record holder Allan Caidic and former UE coach David Zamar, vowed to bring back the Red Warriors' glory days. "I would like to see UE back on top of the UAAP before my contract ends three years from now." He admits however that it will be tough going, since getting marquee players these days has become difficult, what with other teams ready to spend big money just to snare the best talents to beef up their respective rosters. "For me, I still believe the words of my father (baseball and softball great Filomeno 'Boy' Codiñera), that the best players in any sport can not be bought or enticed by money. You just need practice and hard training to be the best," he said. "I believe I have the material to compete. But we'll still see in the coming days. We'll be participating in all summer tournaments, and it is only there that I’ll see how far my team can go," said Codiñera, who also had assistant coaching stints with the Air21 Express in the PBA and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the UAAP last year. - Jon Perez, KY, GMANews.TV