Ryan Gregorio

Paul Ryan Gregorio is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is also a former player and coach for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP, before coaching in the pro league in 2002. He is a two-time PBA Champion Coach and a two-time PBA Coach of the Year awardee.He also has the distinction of being the 1st and only coach in the league history to win a championship as an interim coach in 2002.

Career

Prior to his coaching chores with Purefoods, Gregorio was a former player and coach of the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP and was an assistant coach of Eric Altarimano with Purefoods.

However, in 2002, Altamirano was hired as an assistant coach for the Philippine national basketball team and Gregorio was named as the interim coach of the TJ Hotdogs. Under Gregorio's hands, Purefoods won the 2002 Governor's Cup with a 4-3 series victory over the Alaska Aces. The team was paraded by imports Derrick Brown, Kelvin Price and Best Player of the Conference winner Rey Evangelista. Gregorio coached the team to a dismal performance in the Commissioners Cup before Altarimano regained coaching duties in the All-Filipino Cup. Despite this Gregorio was rewarded, along with Coca Cola Tigers mentor Chot Reyes as co-winner of the PBA Press Corps Coach of the Year Award.

In 2003, Gregorio became the full-time head coach of Purefoods, after Altamirano was tasked to head the San Miguel All-Stars team. In his first season as full-time coach, the TJ Hotdogs won only nine games that year, the worst performance of any team during the season.

Re-Building the Giants

In the 2004-05 season, Gregorio coached a Purefoods team, retooled with amateur stars James Yap, Paul Artadi, Peter June Simon and the vastly improving Kerby Raymundo. Despite Purefoods' sorry stint in the 2004 Fiesta Conference, Purefoods went on to finish two quarterfinals' stints in the Philippine Cup and the 2005 Fiesta Conference.

The Championship Run

The 2005-06 PBA season would be Gregorio's finest season yet, he would lead the Purefoods Chunkee Giants to two finals appearances, a runner-up finish in the 2005-06 Fiesta Conference, and a CHAMPIONSHIP against Red Bull in the Philippine Cup Finals, winning in 6 games, 4-2. Under his leadership, JAMES YAP won the PBA MVP Award/Mythical 1st Team, MARC PINGRIS won the Most Improved Player Award/Defensive Player of the Year/Defensive Team/Mythical 2nd Team/Finals MVP, KERBY RAYMUNDO and ROGER YAP made it to the Mythical 1st Team selection. He once again coached his team to its 2nd Championship in the last 4 years. The 2006 success earned him his 2nd Coach of the Year Award and stamped his position as one of the best young coaches in the country.

2007-08 All-Filipino Finals Appearance

Gregorio started the 2007-2008 season with a bang. He led his team to a 5-game sweep of the pre-tournament games and would eventually bag the Pre-Tournament Championship. He would continue his mastery of the All-Filipino Conference as he led his team to a 7-0 start and finish with 12 wins and 6 losses, enough to push the team to the Semi-Finals. He would lead his team to another trip to the Finals, his 3rd in the last 5 conferences. However, his team would eventually lose to Sta. Lucia in 7 games via a controversial series.

2-Time All-Star Coach

In the 2005 Annual All-Star Game held in Laoag City, Gregorio would lead the NORTH All-Star to victory over the SOUTH All-Star. He would again coach the 2008 NORTH All-Star in Bacolod City, but this time he would lose against the SOUTH All-Star in overtime.

2-Time PBA Coach of the Year

2002 - Co-Winner (PBA Press Corps Coach of the Year) with Chot Reyes2006 - Winner (PBA Press Corps Coach of the Year)

adidas Believer

Gregorio is a firm believer of the "Impossible is Nothing" slogan of adidas (Sports Brand).

Aside from coaching and doing sports broadcasts, Gregorio enjoys spending quality time with his family. A son of UP System Vice President for Administration Martin Gregorio, he is married to Jin Gregorio and has 2 children: Ysabelle Marie and Ramon Jose.

External links

* [http://www.tjhotdogs.com Purefoods Chunkee Giants Official Site]