We use cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience. By continued use, you agree to our privacy policy and accept our use of such cookies. For further information, click FIND OUT MORE.

I AGREEFIND OUT MORE

X

News

• • Home

  • News

  • Entertainment

  • Lifestyle

  • Sparkle GMA Artist Center

  • Radio

  • Music

  • Pictures

  • GMA Pinoy TV

  • Kapuso Foundation

  • Regional TV

  • Corporate

  • GMA Play

  • GTV

  • GMA Affordabox

  • GMA Now

• • Cover Stories

  • Sections

  • On TV

• • News * Ulat Filipino * Opinion * Nation * World * Regions * Metro * Special Reports

  • Money * Economy * Personal Finance * Companies * Motoring

  • Sports * Volleyball * Basketball * Boxing * Football * Other sports

  • Pinoy Abroad * Dispatch * Pinoy Achievers * Immigration Guide

  • Weather

  • SciTech * Science and Research * Technology, Gadgets and Gaming

  • Showbiz * Pep * Chika Minute * Showbiz Abroad

  • Lifestyle * Family and Relationships * Travel * Food * Art and Culture * Health and Wellness * Shopping and Fashion * Hobbies and Activities

  • Serbisyo Publiko * Walang Pasok * Transportation * Missing Persons

  • Community Bulletin Board

  • GMA Brandtalk

  • GMA Public Affairs

  • Tracking

  • Archives

  • 24 Oras

  • State of the Nation

  • Saksi

  • Unang Balita

  • Balitanghali

  • QRT

  • News TV Live

• Photo

• Radio

• Video

X

ADVERTISEMENT

• 87
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0 Share

Filtered by: Sports

Sports

Joaqui Garcia fulfills coaching dream at JRU with guidance from father Yong

By BEA MICALLER, GMA News Online

Published June 24, 2026 7:50pm

+ Add GMA on Google

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

Joaqui Garcia and father Yong. (Photo: Angela Davocol)

Joaqui Garcia is among the new faces on the Jose Rizal University bench this season—not as a player, but as a member of the coaching staff.

ADVERTISEMENT

While his presence on the Heavy Bombers’ bench may come as a surprise to some, Garcia, a former Mapua University guard, sees it as the realization of a longtime dream.

Garcia shared that he turned to coaching after battling multiple injuries throughout his playing career, particularly during his stint with the Cardinals.

“Napunta ako sa coaching kasi I’ve been dealing with a lot of injuries sa last year ko sa Mapua, tapos napagdesisyunan ko na mag-coaching ako,” Garcia told GMA News Online on Wednesday.

Other Stories

FilOil: Newcomers deliver as JRU stuns Letran; FEU dominates Gilas Youth

NCAA: JRU completes 3-peat in 3x3 as Mangubat delivers game-winner; Light Bombers prevail

NCAA: Perpetual escapes JRU rally, returns to semis after four seasons

“Kasi ayon din naman ’yung dream ko for the future, so why not simulan ko na ngayon para magtuloy-tuloy na.”

Garcia sustained a fracture in his foot in NCAA Season 98, which forced him to sit out the following edition. In his return in Season 100, he also reinjured his hamstring during their first game.

He was able to finish Season 100, which saw the Cardinals win it all to clinch the school's first title in 33 years.

×

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

Sign Up Your email is safe with us

Garcia still suited up for Abra for one season in the MPBL, but Garcia decided it was time to give coaching a try.

“Parang college pa lang, lahat naman nagdi-dream na mag-pro, pero since injury-prone ako, nag-decide ako na mag-coach na lang,” he added.

Calling the shots was never a far-fetched idea for Garcia since his father has been his mentor ever since he started playing hoops.

Yong was the longtime assistant coach of Mapua and was also a key figure in its high school program.

Having Yong as his guide is one of the reasons he is now starting his coaching journey at JRU, where Yong is also serving as one of the deputies of head coach Nani Epondulan.

“In coaching principles, sobrang dami kong natutunan sa kanya. Hindi ko maisa-isa, pero siguro ’yung pinaka-lesson na nakuha ko sa kanya is i-treat ko nang pantay-pantay ’yung mga players,” the younger Garcia added.

“Kailangan lagi akong rumespeto. Isa na rin ’yun sa reasons kasi since day one, siya naman talaga mentor ko, tapos ’yung mga coaches na kasama ko ngayon sa JRU, kasama ko na since high school.”

—JKC, GMA News

Tags: Joaqui Garcia

×

Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.

Please enter a valid email address

Sign Up Your email is safe with us

More Videos

Most Popular

### Didicas Volcano Island, lumitaw sa gitna ng dagat matapos ang pagyanig sa Babuyan Islands ### Tacloban shooting: Police concerned over teen suspects' chat on avoiding accountability ### Tacloban shooting fatalities remembered as families seek justice ### Authorities probing possible Tacloban school shooting, 1999 Columbine incident link

LOADING CONTENT

LOAD MORE ARTICLES

RETRY LOADING

advertisement

At a Glance

News

• Complaint filed vs 15-year-old involved in Tacloban shooting —PRO 8
• Escudero: President called for special session to end Senate leadership dispute
• Sara Duterte's impeachment trial set for July 6, 2026, despite tight schedule

VIEW MORE ▶

Brand Talk

Money

• No more SMS, email OTPs for high-risk financial transactions starting June 25
• GSIS sets P69.1M for earthquake-related claims
• Meralco seeks bids for 600-MW power supply deal

VIEW MORE ▶

Sports

• ### FIFA World Cup: Milestone Messi sends Argentina to knockout stage

• ### Alex Eala's World Ranking in 2026: Updated week-by-week ranking

• ### Alex Eala falls to Elise Mertens in first round of Bad Homburg Open

• ### FIFA World Cup: Milestone Messi sends Argentina to knockout stage

• ### Alex Eala's World Ranking in 2026: Updated week-by-week ranking

• ### Alex Eala falls to Elise Mertens in first round of Bad Homburg Open

• ### FIFA World Cup: Milestone Messi sends Argentina to knockout stage

‹›

Pinoy Abroad

• Same-sex parenting: Fil-Am commissioner Glenn Magpantay on fatherhood without labels
• 2 pass SPLE for master electricians; no passers for electrical engineers exam
• Filipinos among 5,300 people trapped in Myanmar scam centers —rights group

VIEW MORE ▶

SciTech

• UN chief calls on AI firms to come clean on environmental costs
• DOST, AI firm ink partnership for AI training
• UK considers forcing social media firms to prioritize trusted news

VIEW MORE ▶

Showbiz

• F4, Ashin donate P2.5M to GMA Kapuso Foundation for Mindanao earthquake victims
• Rapper Pio Balbuena appears as guest star on 'The Master Cutter'
• 'House of the Dragon' Season 3: Tom Glynn-Carney says prosthetics help him play Aegon Targaryen's desperation

VIEW MORE ▶

Lifestyle

• ### Lea Salonga is a memory-eating Manananggal in 'Forgotten Island' trailer

• ### Kris Aquino, son Bimby visit late PNoy's resting place on 5th death anniversary

• ### 'Unhinged': What we know about the upcoming Netflix interactive game

• ### Lea Salonga is a memory-eating Manananggal in 'Forgotten Island' trailer

• ### Kris Aquino, son Bimby visit late PNoy's resting place on 5th death anniversary

• ### 'Unhinged': What we know about the upcoming Netflix interactive game

• ### Lea Salonga is a memory-eating Manananggal in 'Forgotten Island' trailer

‹›

Weather

• Rains expected as PAGASA monitors two cyclones inside and outside PAR
• EXPLAINER: What is a downburst?
• EXPLAINER: Why hailstorms occur in the Philippines

VIEW MORE ▶

◀

All Rights Reserved 2026

© GMA Network Inc.

All Rights Reserved 2026 © GMA Network Inc.

About GMA News Online

• About Us
• Contact Us
• Advertise with Us
• Careers
• Privacy Notice
• URL Policy
• AI Policy
• User Policy

On TV

• GMA-7 Shows
• GMA News TV Shows
• TV Schedule

News

• News
• Money
• Sports
• Pinoy Abroad
• Weather
• SciTech
• Showbiz
• Lifestyle
• Serbisyo Publiko
• Community Bulletin Board
• Tracking
• Cover Stories
• Eleksyon 2025

News

• News
• Money
• Sports
• Pinoy Abroad
• Weather
• SciTech
• Showbiz
• Lifestyle
• Serbisyo Publiko
• Community Bulletin Board
• Tracking
• Cover Stories
• Eleksyon 2025

Multimedia

• Videos
• Photos
• Radio -- DZBB

Stay Connected

• RSS Feed
• Mobile
• Social Media Center

Tools

• Search
• Stories

GMANetwork.com

• Entertainment
• Artist Center
• Community
• International
• Radio
• Pictures
• Music
• Kapuso Foundation
• Corporate
• Regional TV

GMANetwork.com

• Entertainment
• Artist Center
• Community
• International
• Radio
• Pictures
• Music
• Kapuso Foundation
• Corporate
• Regional TV

Next Story Chot Reyes calls for healing, end to speculations following Rene Baterbonia, Divine Adili deaths

ShareThis Copy and Paste