Ang 59-gulang na coach na nakilala sa kanyang bronze medal finish sa 1986 Asian Games ay napabalita nang magiging coach ng FedEx ngunit tinanggihan niya ang posisyon dahil hawak nito ang RP junior team na sasabak sa Asia Basketball As-sociation Young Men’s Basketball Championship sa Lucena City sa July.
Ngunit kinumbinsi nina FedEx team manager Lito Alvarez at Chairman Bert Lina si Lipa na nauna nilang kinuhang consultant ng tatlong buwan.
"Talagang inabot kami ng gabi sa pagko-convince sa kanya. Pero when we reminded him that it was kind of shooting two birds with one stone, considering that Mr. Lina is also fully supportive of the national junior team ever since, he finally acceded to our plea," ani Alvarez.
Sinabi nina Lina at Alvarez na kakausapin nila ang Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) na magkaroon ng plano at schedule para hindi magkaroon ng conflict sa schedule ni Lipa sa Express at sa national youth team.