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| Coach Ricky Dandan passed away at age 61. PBA Images (file photo) |
PASIG--Philippine basketball lost one of its top modern-day coaches as some of his friends confirmed the passing of coach Ricky Dandan on Wednesday.
"To my coach/mentor/ninong, thank you for everything," said Paolo Romero, who was one of Dandan's players at the University of the Philippines when he coached there for three years from 2011-2013.
Dandan actually played for the Fighting Maroons during the early 80s and was part of the coaching staff when they won the 1986 UAAP crown.
Dandan became the first head coach of the Manila Metrostars in the MBA in 1998, leading the team starring Romel Adducul and Alex Compton to the Northern Conference Finals before bowing to eventual national champions Pampanga Dragons.
Dandan would become Terrafirma's coach for the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup, but he resigned after the said conference to focus more on helping then head coach Bo Perasol with UP.
"Rest in peace, tol, a true and loyal friend, Coach Ricky Dandan," said Perasol, now the Fighting Maroons' athletic director.
Dandan's last known head coaching stint was with the MPBL's Bataan Risers from 2022-2023 and was part of the Manila Stars' coaching staff during the 2024 season.
Dandan passed away at the age of 61.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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