Ariel Vanguardia joined Vanguard University as an assistant coach in August 2025 and brings more than 28 years of international and professional coaching experience.
A well-travelled FIBA coach, he is the founder of Hoop Coaches International, which organizes webinars and coaching clinics all over the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Vanguardia is also a Master Trainer with the ASA Foundation.
Before Vanguard, Vanguardia was the head coach of the Manila Stars SV Batang Sampaloc in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) until December 2024
In July 2024, he was an Assistant Coach with the Atlanta Hawks at the NBA Summer League, where he led player development workouts with 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, Nikola Djurisic, Dylan Windler, Kobe Bufkin, Mouhamed Gueye, EJ Liddell, and Keaton Wallace.
He wheld two head coaching jobs in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the top Professional League in his home country, as he guided the Blackwater Bossing from September 2021 to May 2023, and the Phoenix Fuelmasters from June 2016 to November 2017. He helped the Bossing to a playoff appearance in 2002 and navigated the Fuelmasters to three straight playoff appearances. In between those roles, Vanguardia coached the IECO Green Warriors in the Terrific12 – The Asian League Tournament in Macau and the Unlimited Sports Management NBL/CBA Tour team in China both in 2018.
He has served as Associate Head Coach of the Barako Bull Energy Boosters in 2009 and the Talk and Text Phonepals from 2001 to 2006, winning the franchise’s first-ever PBA Championship in 2003.
Internationally, Vanguardia coached the Westports Malaysia Dragons in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) for six seasons from 2010 to 2016. He guided the Dragons to its first and only ABL Championship in 2015 and the 2014 regular season championship. Vanguardia was also named ABL and Asiabasket Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Vanguardia also served as Assistant Coach for the Philippine National Team, which won the Gold at the 20th Southeast Asian Games in Brunei.
At the Collegiate level, he was head coach of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers from 2006 to 2009, leading the team to the Philippine NCAA Finals.
Vanguardia also had stints with the Toyota Ilo-Ilo Warriors – Liga Pilipinas 2009, and Toyota Otis Sparks in the Philippine Basketball League 2008
He began his career as an assistant coach ofor the College of St. Benilde Blazers in 1997-98 before moving to an assistant role for the Welcoat Paint Masters in the Philippine Basketball League in 1998.
Vanguardia won his first Championship as an Assistant Coach of the Manila Metrostars in the Metropolitan Basketball Association (1998-2000).
Vanguardia holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Business Management, from De La Salle University in Manila where he played Collegiate basketball and was sports editor of the school paper; the La Sallian.
Coach Vanguardia feels so blessed to be on the bench with the Lions.
“It’s my destiny to be here since Vanguard is in my surname”.
