Tributes poured in for legendary high school basketball coach Ato Badolato, who passed away Sunday due to heart failure.

He was 74.

“Will miss you Ato. Ikaw ang malaking rason kung bakit ako nandito sa position ko ngayon. Tatanawin kong malaking utang na loob lahat ng ginawa mo sa akin bilang isang player,” wrote Brgy Ginebra pointguard LA Tenorio, who played under Badolato’s tutelage at the San Beda Red Cubs in the NCAA juniors.

“Being under your wing has been a blessing to my life. Good bye Coach Ato... my mentor, father figure and friend... Thank you for everything,” wrote former player and coach Eric Altamirano, who also played for Badolato for the Red Cubs and was one of the players who were instrumental in giving the school a string of championships.

“Maraming salamat sa lahat ng tinuro mo sakin... I learned the basic fundamentals through your program. I learned to play organized basketball through you. I became successful in my career because I have a strong basketball foundation,” wrote Gerry Esplana.

News of Badolato’s passing immediately spread on social media, with San Beda team manager Jude Roque confirming it on a Facebook post.

“Sad day for the Bedan community as legendary high school basketball coach Ato Badolato passes away. RIP coach Ato,” Roque wrote.

Badolato, considered as one of the best high school coaches in the country, led the Red Cubs to numerous NCAA high school championships. He mentored the Red Cubs for nearly four decades and was known to produce some of the best players in the country.

Among the players who played under his wing were Renren Ritualo, Magnum Membrere, Benjie Paras and Dindo Pumaren, to name a few.