MANILA, Philippines – Former UP Fighting Maroons coach Ricky Dandan died at the age of 61 on Wednesday, November 13, due to a lingering illness, the UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development (OASD) confirmed.
Dandan was the fierce yet encouraging voice on the sidelines as the Fighting Maroons trudged through their dark days from UAAP Seasons 74 to 76 from 2011 to 2013, where they only tallied a collective 3-39 win-loss record.
The feisty mentor, however, still tasted the joys of winning on the collegiate level upon his return in Seasons 81 and 82 in 2019 and 2020, serving as a respected deputy to then-head coach and now UP OASD director Bo Perasol.
A no-nonsense, ego-controlling figure in a team suddenly chock-full of stars like Juan Gomez de Liaño, Bright Akhuetie, Ricci Rivero, and Kobe Paras, Dandan helped UP reach its first finals and podium finish since 1986 in Season 81, before returning for another Final Four appearance the year after.
Since then, the Maroons have all but perfected their winning culture, not missing the semifinals since, and are again on track for a finals return this year in Season 87.
Dandan also plied his coaching craft in the amateur and pro club scene, taking the head coaching reins in the defunct Philippine Basketball League in the early 2000s, then in the PBA from 2005 to 2012, and again from 2013 to 2018.
After working as an assistant for much of his PBA tenure, Dandan then briefly held the Columbian Dyip head coaching gig in the 2017-2018 season, tallying a 3-12 record before resigning and returning to the UAAP.
Tributes started pouring in for Dandan, who also played for the UP Maroons in the UAAP until 1985 under legendary coach Joe Lipa.
“A true and loyal friend,” Perasol said of Dandan. – Rappler.com