Like the España faithful, UST head coach Pido Jarencio and star senior Nic Cabañero have a positive outlook for this batch of UST Growling Tigers.
Things seem to be looking up for the UST Growling Tigers heading into UAAP Season 87. The returning Pido Jarencio has gotten a proper offseason, while top redshirts have completed their residencies.
UST will now feature ace guards Forthsky Padrigao and Kyle Paranada, Fil-Ams Chase Lane, Geremy Robinson, and Leland Estacio, as well as former Ateneo hopeful Ice Danting. Also debuting is reigning NCAA Juniors MVP Amiel Acido, alongside foreign student-athlete Mo Tounkara.
Preseason tournaments are just as abundant, such as the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup and PinoyLiga Next Man Cup. Jarencio also mentioned a two-week Korea trip, where they played nine games against local pro and collegiate teams.
Champion coaches Juno Sauler and Peter Martin have been tapped as assistant coaches. Sauler led La Salle to a title in Season 76, while Martin is the San Miguel Beermen’s longtime assistant coach in the PBA.
“Basta kami, positive kami, positive ako. Hindi lang ‘yun. We added sa coaching staff namin yung true professional coaches. Which is coach Juno [Sauler] and coach Peter [Martin] para sa coaching staff. Kaya itong team na ito medyo… ‘Yan nga, binuo natin,” Jarencio said during the Season 87 basketball press conference in Cubao.
“Syempre may process pa rin ‘yan. Tignan natin. Kasi hindi naman pwede overnight ‘yan. Basta kami positive kami sa team na ito,” said Jarencio.
While it’s a deep team, Jarencio had this to say: “This is not Nic Cabañero’s team. This is UST’s team. Kaya itong team na ‘to, tulong-tulong ‘to, sama-sama ‘to.”
Nic Cabañero’s perspective
At the center of UST’s rebuild is Cabañero, the Tigers’ bright spot since Season 84. From a wide-eyed rookie, Cabañero is now one of three homegrown seniors in this UST squad.
And with the Tigers’ aggressive offseason, he will finally get much-needed help for Season 87.
“I’m excited to represent our school and I’m excited to play with my new teammates, the new coaches as well. We’re ready and we’re proud and loud to play our best in every game,” Cabañero told The GAME during the Season 87 press conference.
“Super thankful din ako kasi my new teammates picked UST and parang malaking bagay din sila for our missing pieces in our team. I do hope that we can have more wins in this season and we’re gonna focus on our goal.”
Cabañero also gets to learn from fellow guards Padrigao and Paranada. Padrigao is one of the UAAP’s top point guards, while Paranada was a flamethrower for the UE Red Warriors.
As his co-captain, Padrigao is likewise helping Cabañero with his leadership skills. The pair, alongside Migs Pangilinan, will be UST’s three co-captains for Season 87.
“I think for Forthsky, natutunan ko madami. It helps me improve more in the reads of basketball,” explains Cabañero. “Si Kyle [Paranada] din. He’s a typical guy to boost me up. Sabi niya kasi na, ‘You know Nic that you can do it, right?’ Like every game, parang he’s trying to motivate me as well.”
“Even though na I’m ahead [of] him in UST, parang he’s trying to be a leader also. I know na the two of them, parang ang laki ng impact nila for our team. Which is Forthsky rin. He already won a championship so malaking bagay niya for us,” the senior Cabañero shared.
Cabañero will now play in his second season with Jarencio, who he’s formed a bond with. In his return to UST, this crop of Tigers also received a “father figure” with the Tigers’ last champion coach.
“You know that Coach Pido is like our father figure. Even off basketball, parang he’s trying to help us din. Ayun nga, he’s trying to be there for us all the time. Lagi naman niya remind sa amin na we’re just gonna give our best every game, every practice for us to win this season,” he said.
As UAAP Season 87 opens, it’s looking good for the UST Growling Tigers. The whole roster received a major revamp, and even the coaching staff. Preseason tourneys also showed this lineup’s long-term potential.
Without question, it’s the right step in rebuilding the winning culture in España.
“I think early forecast ko is I think we can have more wins compared to the last season…which is we had one win only in the first round. Let’s see lang talaga…you know UAAP is different, so, tingnan niyo,” said Cabañero.
Banner images courtesy of the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup and UAAP Season 87 Media Teams.