Chris Gavina has bid the PBA and Rain or Shine goodbye after signing as head coach of Taiwanese T1 League team Taichung Suns.
The Elasto Painters announced Gavina’s departure on Sunday, Oct. 9 through the team’s official Facebook page.
Gavina, who previously held the head coaching position for Rain or Shine for two conferences last season before giving way for the return of Yeng Guiao, was actually present on the bench in the Elasto Painters’ 113-105 loss to San Miguel.
The move ended Gavina’s six year tenure in the PBA where he started as an assistant coach to the Kia franchise in 2016 before taking the head coaching position in 2018. He moved to Rain or Shine as a deputy to then coach Caloy Garcia for three years before he was promoted to head coach.
He is set to become the first Filipino coach to take his act to the T1 league after players like Jordan Heading and KG Canaleta first tested the waters in the neighboring league. With the Suns though, Gavina will be able to handle Canaleta and former PBA import Tony Bishop.