Did Dandan really resign?

Ricky Dandan, head coach of the UP Fighting Maroons. Photo from PBA Online.

Several reports on Sunday informed the public of University of the Philippines Fighting Maroon Ricky Dandan’s resignation as head coach, but did he really resign?

According to several media sources, Dandan expressed his resignation on Saturday, right after enduring the team’s eighth straight loss in the UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament, with the Ateneo Blue Eagles winning with 67 against UP’s 59.

Other sources say that Dandan’s resignation first started circulating within the UP alumni community and team management, which then officially reached the offices of UP Chancellor Caesar Saloma and UP College of Human Kinetics (CHK) Dean Ronualdo Dizer on Monday, who both represent UP in the UAAP and the ones who have the power to appoint and dismiss any UP sports program staff.

CHK Dean Dizer reportedly said that they cannot confirm anything until documents are provided, but one thing’s for sure: the Maroons will need a coach by Wednesday’s game with University of the East Red Warriors.

But on Sunday, UP forward JR Gallarza tweeted otherwise, saying that “Coach Ricky did not quit.”

In another source, CHK Dean Dizer said that he hasn’t received a resignation letter from Dandan as of Sunday afternoon. Other sources are even asking if Dandan really quit or was he fired. Dandan has been the Maroon’s head coach for the last three seasons, out of which the team garnered 3 wins out of a total of 33 games.

As of latest posting on Inquirer.net on Monday evening, Dandan is officially out and no longer the head coach of the UP Fighting Maroons.

Rey Madrid, a former Fighting Maroon player and coach, is likely to replace Dandan; with former player Poch Juinio as one of the coaching assistants.

Tune in for more of the latest developments in this story.

With reports from ABS-CBN News, Inquirer.net, and Olmin Leyba