Macaraya takes basketball coaching reins at San Sebastian

MANILA, Philippines – San Sebastian has tapped alumnus Egay Macaraya as its new senior basketball coach with hopes of changing its fortunes following disappointments in the last two NCAA seasons.

"Yes, I was appointed and I started holding practice last Monday," said Macaraya during Monday's press briefing announcing the partnership of his PBA D-League team Cafe France and Freego at Cafe France in Belair, Makati City.

Macaraya will be the Stags third coach in the last two years as he will take over from Rodney Santos, who succeeded Topex Robinson two seasons back.

Macaraya hopes to steer San Sebastian to a title after he steered Centro-Escolar U to five National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) championships and Cafe France to the PBA D-League crown last year.

"Of course, I want to win a championship with San Sebastian," said Macaraya. "But this is a rebuilding year and a Final Four appearance will already be a big accomplishment for the team."

Macaraya will bring former pro and fellow San Sebastian alumnus Eugene Quilban as one of his assistants.

Macaraya won an NCAA championship as a player in 1985 while Quilban was part of the school's two-year reign in 1988 and 1989.

Interestingly, Macaraya coached San Sebastian's juniors and seniors team the next year and won a high school championship before concentrating on playing the next year.

And now Macaraya is back.