Filipino coach Mike Magpayo made history as the first Asian-American head coach to win a Division 1 men’s basketball game of the United States National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) when the University of California (UC) Riverside Highlanders won over the Washington Huskies in Las Vegas.
Jock Perry scored 21 points, Arinze Chidom had eight points and 12 rebounds, and UC Riverside beat Washington 57-42 on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 (Wednesday, PHL time) for coach Mike Magpayo’s first-ever victory with the Highlanders.
The 41-year-old Magpayo was named head coach by the University of California, Riverside in July, becoming the first US NCAA men’s basketball coach of Asian and Filipino descent. Prior to arriving in Riverside, Magpayo spent a year as the men’s basketball director of operations at the University of San Francisco (USF).
Coach Mike Magpayo is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of a multi-million dollar real estate firm in Southern California and is the founder and president of the Asian Coaches Association.
UC Riverside went on social media to proudly announce Coach Magpayo’s historic achievement.
More Pinoy rising stars in U.S. basketball include Kai Zachary Sotto who was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after leading The Skill Factory National to a championship at the King Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia while Filipino-American Kihei Clark led the Virginia Cavaliers to victory and brought home the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament championship trophy last year.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to Filipino coach Mike Magpayo for earning his first-ever win as an Asian-American head coach of the UC Riverside Highlanders at the US NCAA Division 1 Men basketball!
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