Luigi Trillo
| Meralco Bolts | |
|---|---|
| Position | Head coach |
| League | PBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 13, 1975 Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Career information | |
| College | De La Salle |
| Coaching career | 1997–present |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1999–2004 | Adamson |
| 1999 | Cebu Gems (assistant) |
| 2000–2011 | Alaska Aces (assistant) |
| 2006–2012 | Cebuana Lhuillier Gems |
| 2007 | Philippines (men's 3x3) |
| 2011–2014 | Alaska Aces |
| 2014–2023 | Meralco Bolts (assistant) |
| 2023–present | Meralco Bolts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As head coach:
As assistant coach: | |
Luis Antonio Crisostomo Trillo, (born July 13, 1975) better known as Luigi Trillo, is the head coach of Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association.
He was the former head coach of the Alaska Aces,[1][2] and Cebuana Lhuillier Gems in the PBA D-League.
Coaching career
[edit]Early years
[edit]After suiting up for La Salle from 1993 to 1997,[3] Trillo did not play professionally. He first got the offer to coach for a private school for boys called Southridge in 1997.[4]
After Southridge, he became a co-coach with Jorge Gallent in the junior Philippine Basketball League. He then got an offer as an assistant coach for the Cebu Gems in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association, where he went straight to the finals in his first year.[4]
Adamson
[edit]In 1999, he joined the Adamson Falcons and, at 23 years old, became the youngest head coach in the UAAP at the time. His inexperience showed as the Soaring Falcons did not win a game in his first two seasons with the team at 0-28.[5]Those first two years were really trying times for me because, remember, you're inheriting a team that's in last place and then we had to recruit,", he said as he explained the early parts of his 4 and a half years with Adamson.[4]
His hard work resulted in a UniGames title for Adamson. Although his time with Adamson wasn’t the brightest of years, it still remains just as significant to him because it made him “realize how tough coaching was.”
Alaska (Cone's assistant)
[edit]
While at Adamson, he was also offered by coach Tim Cone, who was then his neighbor, to be his assistant coach at Alaska, which he accepted.[6] He juggled learning about coaching through the UAAP and with the Alaska franchise. He helped his team to steer 4 championships for the team.
Cebuana Lhullier
[edit]After his stint with Adamson, he became head coach of the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems of the PBL in 2006,[7] and of the PBA D-League in 2011.
Alaska
[edit]In 2012, he left Cebuana and took over the coaching duties of Alaska, replacing Joel Banal.[8] The Elasto Painters spoiled his debut in a score of 107–100 but the Aces recovered and won 104–84 on their game vs. Barako Bull Energy.[9][10]
During the 2012–13 season (Trillo's first full season), he quite made an impression around the league by battling the eventual champions Talk N' Text Tropang Texters to six games during the 2012–13 PBA Philippine Cup semis. In the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup, he helped the Aces win its 14th and final championship in franchise history, the first in the post-Tim Cone era. His team also came within a game of ousting the eventual champion San Mig Coffee Mixers in the quarterfinals of the 2013 PBA Governors Cup. Because of his achievements, he was awarded as the 2012–13 PBA Coach of the Year by the PBA Press Corps.[11]
But two games into the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup, he stepped down as head coach of Alaska.[12]
Sabbatical
[edit]After resigning with Alaska, Trillo was offered by its main rival San Miguel Beermen to be their head coach to replace Biboy Ravanes. But that time the Beermen offered him, Trillo was already talking with the Meralco Bolts.[13][14]
Meralco
[edit]Norman Black's assistant
[edit]He was hired as an assistant to Norman Black at Meralco.[12]
In July 6, 2022, he was appointed as interim coach while Norman Black was taking a leave. Trillo guided the team into a win against Rain or Shine.[15] In July 31, 2022, he led the Bolts to defeat Barangay Ginebra in Game 3 of the best of three quarterfinals series. This is the first time that the team defeated Ginebra in a playoff series.[16] He coached the team until August 3, 2022, when Black returned from overseas.[17]
As head coach
[edit]In May 8, 2023, he was appointed as head coach while Norman Black was relegated as the team's consultant. In the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup he led the Meralco Bolts to their first ever championship in its franchise history after beating the San Miguel Beermen 4 games to 2.[18]
Coaching record
[edit]Collegiate record
[edit]| Season | Team | Elimination round | Playoffs | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | PCT | Finish | GP | W | L | PCT | Results | ||
| 2000 | AdU | 14 | 0 | 14 | .000 | 8th | — | — | — | — | Eliminated |
| 2001 | AdU | 14 | 0 | 14 | .000 | 8th | — | — | — | — | Eliminated |
| 2002 | AdU | 14 | 3 | 11 | .214 | 7th | — | — | — | — | Eliminated |
| 2003 | AdU | 14 | 5 | 9 | .429 | 5th | — | — | — | — | Eliminated |
| 2004 | AdU | 14 | 5 | 9 | .429 | 6th | — | — | — | — | Eliminated |
| Totals | 70 | 13 | 57 | .185 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 championships | ||
| Season | Conference | Team | Elimination round | Playoffs | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | PCT | Finish | GP | W | L | PCT | Result | |||
| 2011–12 | Governors' Cup | Alaska | 9 | 2 | 7 | .222 | 9th | — | — | — | — | Eliminated |
| 2012–13 | Philippine Cup | Alaska | 14 | 8 | 6 | .571 | 5th | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 | Semifinals |
| Commissioner's Cup | 13 | 10 | 3 | .786 | 1st | 8 | 7 | 1 | .875 | Champions | ||
| Governor's Cup | 9 | 4 | 5 | .444 | 7th | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Quarterfinals | ||
| 2013–14 | Philippine Cup | Alaska | 14 | 5 | 9 | .357 | 8th | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Quarterfinals |
| Commissioner's Cup | 9 | 6 | 3 | .667 | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | Quarterfinals | ||
| Governor's Cup | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | (resigned) | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Philippine Cup | Meralco | 5 | 4 | 1 | .800 | 5th | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 | (interim) |
| 2023–24 | Commissioner's | Meralco | 11 | 8 | 3 | .727 | 5th | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Quarterfinals |
| Philippine | 11 | 6 | 5 | .545 | 3rd | 15 | 10 | 5 | .667 | Champions | ||
| Career total | 97 | 54 | 43 | .557 | Playoff total | 40 | 25 | 15 | .625 | 2 championships | ||
Broadcasting
[edit]
Trillo served as an occasional courtside reporter on UAAP broadcast by PTV 4's Silverstar Sports.[19] He also served as a color commentator on PBA games after his resignation on Alaska.[20]
Personal life
[edit]Trillo is the son of former Alaska team manager/governor Joaqui Trillo. He is married to TV host and former courtside reporter, Ria Tanjuatco-Trillo. They have four children.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ Beltran, Nelson (August 1, 2012). "Trillo stays as Alaska coach". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ Lopez, Jeric (August 1, 2012). "Trillo stays on as coach of Alaska". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ Payo, Jasmine (2023-01-19). "'Dream of mine': Topex Robinson named new La Salle coach". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ a b c "Luigi Trillo comes full circle". 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Remembering 0-28: Winless seasons in Adamson motivate Trillo at Alaska | InterAksyon.com | Sports5". Archived from the original on 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
- ^ Henson, Joaquin M. (2000-01-23). "Cone Eyes Grand Slam|Sporting Chance". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ "Moneymen - About Us". www.cebuanamoneymen.com. Archived from the original on 2007-05-22.
- ^ "Luigi Trillo replaces Joel Banal as head coach of Alaska | InterAKTV". Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
- ^ CORNLEY IN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT AS RAIN OR SHINE THWARTS ALASKA, PBA.ph
- ^ ALASKA BEATS BARAKO BULL TO HAND TRILLO FIRST PBA WIN AS INTERIM HEAD COACH, PBA.ph
- ^ "Coach Trillo named PBA Coach of the Year – Alaska Aces Official Website". www.alaskaaces.com.ph. Archived from the original on 2014-05-17.
- ^ a b "Luigi Trillo joins Meralco Bolts as Norman Black's assistant coach".
- ^ Sacamos, Karlo (September 2, 2024). "How Luigi Trillo almost became San Miguel coach". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Is Luigi Trillo the MVP teams' answer to Tim Cone and his triangle offense? See Al Panlilio's response". Spin.ph. July 27, 2014. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Luigi Trillo guides Meralco out of slump as stand-in for Norman Black". RAPPLER. 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ^ "Meralco averts disaster, boots out Ginebra in breakthrough playoff win to reach semis". RAPPLER. 2022-07-31. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
- ^ Li, Matthew (2022-08-05). "Norman Black returns to Meralco". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ "Meralco makes history, clinches first franchise championship at San Miguel's expense". ABS-CBN News.
- ^ La Salle vs FEU 1998 UAAP Finals | Green Archers end years of heartbreak, retrieved 2024-02-11
- ^ "Luigi Trillo joins Meralco Bolts as Norman Black's assistant coach". Yahoo News. 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ Henson, Joaquin M. (2013-06-16). "Joaqui Trillo & son Luigi: Two Aces in a winning team". PhilStar.com.