Gavina’s Mission: Preparing Momowei for EuroLeague Dreams

University of the East (UE) Red Warriors’ newly appointed head coach, Chris Gavina, has set an ambitious development plan for standout foreign student-athlete Precious Momowei, aiming to prepare him for a future in EuroLeague basketball. Gavina, known for his meticulous approach to player development, is committed to aligning Momowei’s training with the rigorous demands of Europe’s premier basketball competition.

Upon his appointment, Gavina prioritized understanding his players’ aspirations, starting with a one-on-one conversation with Momowei. He detailed this exchange on The Navs Effect podcast, saying, “Precious was the first one I actually got to talk to one-on-one. When I first got there, I made sure that I reached out after our practice. I reached out to him, actually, and I said, ‘Precious, what are your goals? Short-term and long-term?’ and he shared with me that short-term, obviously, he wants to bring UE as far as he possibly can. His commitment to that side and the community has been tremendous.”

Momowei’s dedication to UE has been evident throughout his first two seasons in the UAAP. Despite a challenging Season 87, where the Red Warriors started strong with a 6-3 record but faltered in the latter half, Momowei remained a consistent performer. He averaged 13 points, 14 rebounds, and 1 block per game, solidifying himself as one of the best big men in the league. His performance has not gone unnoticed, drawing interest from other UAAP programs. However, Momowei’s loyalty to UE remains steadfast, as he continues to participate actively in practices under Gavina’s leadership over the past week.

Understanding Momowei’s long-term ambition to play in the EuroLeague, Gavina has tailored a development plan to elevate his game to meet the league’s high standards. “He said that he wants to be able to [play in the] EuroLeague,” Gavina recounted. “With that in mind, I told him, ‘Well, that’s great, because now I can align my development for you. For EuroLeague, not just UE.’ So, it changes things because I told him that [his] level of work now has to go two, three, four, five times more than [he’s] ever expected for me to get him to his EuroLeague goal.”

The EuroLeague is widely recognized as Europe’s top-tier men’s basketball league, featuring elite clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Olympiacos. Competing at this level requires exceptional skill, versatility, and a deep understanding of the game. Gavina aims to mold Momowei into a dynamic and versatile player, drawing inspiration from NBA stars. “I asked him who his favorite player was, and he mentioned Kevin Durant. He’s in the mold. He has the same body frame,” Gavina observed. “We need to make him versatile, improve his ability to make great decisions off the dribble.”

Gavina sees immense potential in Momowei, comparing his game to modern NBA big men who rely on speed and skill rather than a traditional back-to-the-basket approach. “With the evolution of a modern big, it’s so much not back to basket anymore. Why would I impose a guy like Precious, who has the ability to face up and be quicker than the guys that will be defending him? Honestly, I feel like he’s at a disadvantage when he’s trying to back someone down. But if you face him up, and if you use that length, one-two dribbles, he could be like Giannis, get to the rim and tear it down. That’s what I’ve been telling him, every time [he] gets into the basket, tear that shit down.”

Gavina’s coaching philosophy emphasizes repetitive mastery of fundamental skills, akin to Bruce Lee’s approach of practicing one kick ten thousand times. “We need to make sure that we get him comfortable in his primary move,” Gavina explained. “That’s really what we’re focusing on with Precious, getting him to play through his strength, making sure that he knows what he’s going to go through and have one or two counters after that, minimize his thinking and improve his decision-making.”

With a coaching career spanning various teams and roles, Gavina brings a wealth of experience in player development. His previous stints include head coaching positions with the Kia Picanto in the PBA and the Taichung Suns in Taiwan’s T1 League, as well as coaching roles with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Throughout his career, Gavina has been recognized for his ability to nurture talent and instill a culture of discipline and hard work.

“He’s going to get scary, let’s just say that. I got five months. I’ve never had a talent like Precious who I can develop, whose ceiling is tremendously high,” Gavina stated. “Now, we have to improve his ability to more like Kevin Durant. I have a Bruce Lee approach of doing one kick ten thousand times, instead of doing ten thousand kicks one time.”

As the Red Warriors prepare for the upcoming season, the synergy between Gavina’s coaching acumen and Momowei’s dedication sets a promising foundation. Their shared vision not only aims to elevate UE’s performance in the UAAP but also aspires to launch Momowei onto the prestigious EuroLeague stage.