| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Career information | |
| College | Ateneo de Manila University |
| Playing career | 1979–1986 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| U/Tex Wranglers | |
| San Miguel Beermen | |
| Crispa Redmanizers | |
| Manila Beer Brewmasters | |
| Great Taste Coffee Makers | |
| As coach: | |
| Ateneo de Manila University | |
| Philippines (women) | |
Matthew "Fritz" Gaston is a Filipino former basketball player and coach.
Career
Playing career
College
The 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
Gaston 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
He was also a player for the Philippine youth national team in 1977.[1]
Coaching career
Gaston became coach of his alma mater's basketball team. He led the Ateneo Blue Eagles to their first ever UAAP title in Season 50 (1988).[1]
In 2003, Gaston became the head coach of the Philippines women's national basketball team.[3] 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.[4]
Sports administration
Gaston was commissioner for the Games and Amusement Board, a government body which deals with professional sports in the Philippines, from 2011 to 2017.[3] He would be later appointed as a commissioner for the Philippine Sports Commission on March 24, 2023 by President Bongbong Marcos.[5]
Personal life
Gaston has Silay, Negros Occidental as his hometown.[3][6] Gaston is married to Aurora Mandanas Gaston, a former beauty pageant contestant who won the 1984 Miss Asia Pacific.[7]
His daughter, Pauline is a professional volleyball player who has played in the Filipino Premier Volleyball League.[8][9] Therese, another daughter is a former collegiate volleyball player and a beauty pageant queen like her mother.[7][10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Pedralvez, Bong (March 30, 2023). "Gaston completes PSC 5-man board". Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- 1 2 Ballesteros, Jan (July 5, 2020). "Gaston on former teammate Watson, Ateneo's transfer to UAAP". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- 1 2 3 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.
- 1 2 "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.