By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio is hoping that his team’s offseason preparation is already enough to make the Growling Tigers’ fangs and claws ready for the upcoming UAAP Season 87 basketball tournament.
Jarencio and the Tigers have been busy during the offseason competing in various tournaments, both local and international, to hasten their chemistry and camaraderie in hopes of turning their fortunes around this season.
UST has been at the bottom of the UAAP ladder in the past three seasons – only winning a total of six games.
And that’s a narrative Jarencio hopes to slowly change as he continues to instill his ‘Pride, Puso, Palaban’ mantra to his team that is welcoming a boat-load of new faces and talents.
“Sumali kami sa UBL, BBI, Pinoy Liga, FilOil (ECJ Preseason Cup), tapos ‘yong exposure namin sa [South] Korea. Galing kami sa Korea for two weeks, nag-nine games kami against professional and college teams,” shared Jarencio.
“Actually, kaya ko binigyan ng maraming exposure ‘yong team, dahil meron kaming 10 or 11 new players kaya this is a new set of players and group. Binigyan ko ng maraming exposure para mabuild natin ‘yong chemistry tyaka ‘yong camaraderie,” he added.
Among the new players who will don the UST jerseys are new recruits Leland Estacio (West Valley, CA) ,Chase Lane (Claflin, SC) and NCAA Season 99 juniors MVP Amiel Acido (Perpetual) and transferees Geremy Robinson (La Salle), Forthsky Padrigao (Ateneo), and Isaac Danting (Ateneo).
They will join UST holdovers Christian Manaytay, Nic Cabanero, Echo Laure, Migs Pangilinan, and Angelo Crisostomo.
Aside from the players, UST also made sure to bolster their bench tacticians by adding PBA assistant coaches Juno Sauler and Peter Martin as Jarencio’s deputies.
“Basta positive kami, we added sa coaching staff namin, two professional coaches Juno and Peter, kaya itong team na ‘to medyo ‘yon nga binuo natin na atin ‘to,” said Jarencio.
“Tingnan natin di naman overnight ‘yan eh basta kami positive kami sa team namin,” he added.
UST begins its bid for redemption against the UE Red Warriors on Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
