It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but Nic Cabañero stuck with UST from start to finish.
The first three years of Nic Cabañero’s stay with University of Santo Tomas were anything but easy.
A 3-11 finish in UAAP Season 84 served as a rude welcome for Cabañero in collegiate play, which was followed by a horror one-win campaign in Season 85. Things wouldn’t get any better by Season 86, as the Tigers settled for a measly two wins during the Cebuano guard’s junior year.
Being UST’s bright spot during these dark times, it would have been understandable if Cabañero transferred to a rival program, or even forgo his eligibility to try his luck in the professional ranks.
Yet despite all the reasons to leave, Cabañero stuck with the Tigers — a choice that was rewarded with UST’s return to the Final Four, and the arrival of blue-chip pieces that gave the “King Tiger” his much-needed help.
Now that his collegiate career has come to a close, Cabañero hopes to see his loyalty to be emulated not only by the next crop of UST stars, but by the whole UAAP community as well.
“Actually, hindi lang yung pagiging loyal ko ‘yung gusto ko i-instill sa UST, but also sa lahat ng eight schools na mayroon tayo sa UAAP na mahalin niyo lang lagi ‘yung school ninyo,” Cabañero said after UST’s heartbreaking 81-82 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Final Four.
“Kasi I believe in the process na ‘yung nararanasan mo ngayon, may balik ‘yan eh, kasi may purpose talaga si God na kaya ganyan din ‘yung nangyari sa career niyo, ganyan…Although may ups and downs tayo as players, just trust the coach, trust the system, and our Lord.”
Although he couldn’t deliver a title to España, Cabañero remains grateful for his time as a Growling Tiger, which ends with a pair of Final Four appearances and UAAP Elite Team awards.
“The most important thing is my journey. Sobrang hirap kasi naranasan ko maging pinakamababa tapos naka-experience din ako ng Final Four although hindi ko nakuha ‘yung championship. But I’m still happy with the outcome kasi we [fought until the end],” he reflected.
“Sad to say na hindi ko nabigay ‘yung championship na gusto ng UST community, but naniniwala ako maybe soon na mararating ng mga teammates ko, ‘yung mga holdovers.”
With his UST career now over, Nic Cabañero is now setting his sights on a professional career, where he seeks to apply the lessons he’s learned from experiencing the highs and lows of UAAP basketball.
“Sa overseas [teams], I can’t comment about that kasi naka-focus talaga ako sa UAAP, but local naman, mayroon naman MPBL teams na nag-try to contact me, but hindi ko talaga sila kinausap, kasi gusto ko talagang mag-focus sa UAAP,” he said.
As he moves forward from España, Cabañero is confident that UST remains in good hands, even if they will also lose co-captain Forthsky Padrigao, Kyle Paranada, and Leland Estacio to graduation.
In fact, Cabañero already sees four holdovers that can take his mantle of “King Tiger” down the line.
“Si Amiel [Acido], si Mark [Llemit], si Gelo [Crisostomo], tsaka si Collins [Akowe], but of course we have a different playstyle. Iba-iba ‘yung playstyle namin, and kung sino man mabigyan ng moniker, or kung sa kanilang apat, I think deserve naman nila, kasi ‘yung loyalty din na binigay nila sa UST.”
From playing through the dark days as a young Growling Tiger, Nic Cabañero stayed until the sun finally shone again back in España. Now, he leaves the walls of his home for five years, knowing that he has capable young teammates that can continue the winning culture that he helped rebuild.
Now that it’s all said and done, Cabañero knows that he left it all on the floor in his five years wearing UST’s storied black and gold threads.
“I think sobra pa nga [what he achieved] kasi achievements-wise talaga, academically, narating ko rin sa UST na malaking bagay. I’m considered as an alumni na rin sa UST, and of course, sa basketball career ko rin sa UST,” he reflected.
“I think it’s better to ask ‘yung mga tao kung karapat-dapat ba ako na maka-iwan ng gano’ng klaseng legacy ba? But hoping for the best in the future na makamit ulit ‘yung corona sa España.”
Images taken by Kieran Punay/KLIQ Inc.