Matthew "Fritz" Gaston is a Filipino former basketball player and coach.
Fritz Gaston | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission | |
| Assumed office March 4, 2023 | |
| Commissioner of the Games and Amusements Board | |
| In office 2011–2017 | |
| Basketball career | |
| Personal information | |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Ateneo |
| Playing career | 1979–1986 |
| Position | Guard |
| Number | 14, 20, 22 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1979 – 1980 | U/Tex Wranglers |
| 1983 | San Miguel Beermen |
| 1984 | Crispa Redmanizers |
| 1985 | Manila Beer Brewmasters |
| 1986 | Great Taste Coffee Makers |
| As coach: | |
| 1988 | Ateneo |
| 1997 | Mobiline Cellulars |
| 2003–2007 | Philippines (women) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| As head coach:
As player
| |
Medals | |
Career
editPlaying career
editCollege
editThe basketball team of the Ateneo de Manila University had Gaston as a player. He was part of the Ateneo squad which won two consecutive titles in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1975 and 1976.[1] He was part of the last NCAA Ateneo squad before the university left the collegiate league in 1978 to transfer to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).[2]
Club
editGaston also played in the Philippine Basketball Association from 1979 to 1986.[2] He played for multiple teams namely as the U/Tex Wranglers (1980), San Miguel Beermen (1983), Crispa Redmanizers (1984), Manila Beer Brewmasters (1985) and the Great Taste Coffee Makers (1986). With U/Tex he clinched the 1980 PBA All-Filipino Conference title.[1]
National team
editHe was also a player for the Philippine youth national team in 1977.[1]
Coaching career
editGaston became coach of his alma mater's basketball team. He led the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a UAAP title in Season 51 (1988).[3]
He served as an assistant coach under Norman Black for the Mobiline Cellulars for the 1997 PBA All-Filipino Cup and Commissioner's Cup.[4]
In 2003, Gaston became the head coach of the Philippines women's national basketball team.[5] He guided the team to a bronze medal finish at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand and a silver medal finish at the 2007 SEABA Championship for Women.[6]
Sports administration
editGaston was commissioner for the Games and Amusement Board, a government body which deals with professional sports in the Philippines, from 2011 to 2017.[5] He would be later appointed as a commissioner for the Philippine Sports Commission (that administers grassroots and amateur sports) on March 24, 2023 by President Bongbong Marcos.[7]
Personal life
editGaston has Silay, Negros Occidental as his hometown.[5][8] Gaston is married to Aurora Mandanas Gaston, a former beauty pageant contestant who won the 1984 Miss Asia Pacific.[9]
His daughter, Pauline is a professional volleyball player who has played in the Filipino Premier Volleyball League.[10][11] Therese, another daughter is a former collegiate volleyball player and a beauty pageant queen like her mother.[9][12]
References
edit- ^ a b c Pedralvez, Bong (March 30, 2023). "Gaston completes PSC 5-man board". Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Ballesteros, Jan (July 5, 2020). "Gaston on former teammate Watson, Ateneo's transfer to UAAP". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ Malanum, Jean (March 31, 2023). "PSC chief welcomes appointment of Commissioner Gaston". Philippine News Agency.
- ^ "Gaston named PSC commissioner – Daily Tribune". March 30, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c Ramos, Josef (March 30, 2023). "Former PBA player Fritz Gaston appointed PSC commissioner". BusinessMirror. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ Olivares, Rick (February 12, 2017). "SBP at 10". Bleacher's Brew. BusinessMirror. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ "Gaston embraces challenge as PSC commissioner". ABS-CBN News. April 1, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ "Bacolod eyes to host Batang Pinoy in 2024". SunStar. June 7, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Beauty and sports in her genes". Lifestyle.INQ. Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 13, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ "Pauline Gaston makes sure to pay tribute to dad Fritz". Premier Volleyball League. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ Ballesteros, Jan (July 6, 2023). "Stunner at the Palace! Pauline Gaston visits Malacañang for important appointment". One Sport. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ Villano, Alexa (June 20, 2018). "Former Ateneo Lady Eagle Therese Gaston joins Miss Manila 2018". Rappler. Retrieved September 28, 2023.