UST Growling Tigers throughout the UAAP Season 87 press conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Nic Cabañero believes University of Santo Tomas will redeem itself within the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament after placing last the previous yr.
Playing his fourth season after three cellar-dwelling campaigns, Cabañero finally got his best UST team yet in coach Pido Jarencio’s second yr with transferee guards Forthsky Padrigao and Kyle Paranada adding more firepower.
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“I feel we’re able to play and we’re excited to play and personally, excited din ako to be with my latest teammates,” Cabañero told Inquirer Sports.
READ: UAAP: Brand latest team bumps up Pido Jarencio’s hopes
“I feel I can say that UST can have more wins and let’s see kung kaya namin maging contenders sa Final 4 and even sa championship. But we got to take it slow, one game at a time,” he added.
In Cabañero’s first three seasons as UST’s essential gunner, the Growling Tigers only had a complete of six wins including Season 85’s 2-12 finish in Jarencio’s return.
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Jarencio said it’s now not just Cabañero’s team anymore with Padrigao and Paranada in addition to newcomers Amiel Acido, Geremy Robinson, Leland Estacio, Ice Danting, Chase Lane, and Mo Tounkara providing an enormous boost to this system.
“This isn’t Nic Cabanero’s team. That is UST team. Itong team na to, tulong-tulong to, sama-sama ito. Maraming talent na pumasok,” said the veteran UST coach.
Cabañero said it wasn’t hard to gel with their latest teammates with the assistance of his fellow mainstays Christian Manaytay and Migs Pangilinan and coach Jarencio and his veteran-laden staff.
READ: UAAP: Pido Jerencio reboots UST comeback with roster that’s truly his
“Madali lang naman yung adjustments because we’ve been together for nearly three years so parang nagkakaamuyan na kami and parang nalalaman na rin namin yung each personality even outside of basketball,” he said. “Andiyan naman siya (coach) lagi to guide us and marami naman siyang experience from his past coaching that can give us insights to be higher basketball players.”
UST opens its Season 87 campaign against the University of the East on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum at 1 p.m.
“My personal goal is to be within the Final 4 and to be within the championship but before that, I can’t say it yet kasi the season hasn’t began. Iba yung UAAP, every adjustment will occur so I’m gonna take it slow and focus in every game and provides our greatest,” Cabañero said.
