DLSU names Gee Abanilla new Green Archers head coach

De La Salle University and team "godfathers" formally welcomed Gelacio "Gee" Abanilla as the new head coach of the DLSU Men’s Basketball Team during a private lunch Tuesday. According to a statement released Wednesday, Br. Bernie Oca, DLSU Vice Chancellor for Lasallian Mission and External Relations introduced Abanilla as the new Green Archers head coach. "We are happy to have a former Green Archer handle the team," said Br. Oca. "This marks the beginning of the preparations of the Men's Basketball Team for Season 75 of the UAAP. It is heartening to see an outpouring of support for the team. The University will be behind the new coach so that he and the team will be able to achieve the best next season." Abanilla was previously an assistant coach with the 2011 PBA Governors' Cup champion Petron Blaze Boosters and was a member of the Green Archers coaching staff from 1998-2000. He was part of the Green Archers' first two UAAP championships in 1989 and 1990. "I'm very happy and honored to be chosen as the new head coach of the De La Salle Green Archers," said Abanilla. "I would like to bring a different brand of system. I want to put the players in a position where they can succeed. I am very optimistic we can improve. With the support of the community, we can improve on the standing last year," he added. The occasion also served as thanksgiving for the Lasallian godfathers, a group of accomplished La Salle alumni formed to support the DLSU Men's Basketball Team. They are composed of Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Jorge Araneta, Henry Atayde, Kurt Bachman, Chuck Buenaventura, Ramon Del Rosario, Jr., Br. Rolando Dizon FSC, Mike Enriquez, DJ Jose, Philip Ella Juico, Gerry Lanuza, Lim Eng Beng, Tony Lim, Franz Pumaren, Enrique Razon, Jr., Justice Andy Reyes, Ren Ren Ritualo, Nestor Tan, Lito Tanjuatco, Perry Uy, Johnny Valdez, Gary Valenciano, Ramon Villavicencio and Hero Yu. — GMA News