FAMILIAR FACES and fresh recruits will fill UST’s new backcourt as they aim to establish their own identities while carrying the team’s championship aspirations in UAAP Season 89.
Homegrown Tiger Cubs Kirk Cañete and Charles Esteban, who helped UST claim the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball title, are among the rookies who stayed to join the seniors’ division.
“I didn’t really consider any other options because I’ve been here since high school. I already won a championship here,” Cañete told The Flame.
Esteban remarked that the adjustment from junior to senior was less difficult due to his familiarity with UST’s system and the guidance of veterans Mark Llemit, Gelo Crisostomo and Amiel Acido.
However, the two rookies acknowledge that the seniors’ division presents a different level of competition.
“It’s more competitive. The opponents are older, of course, more physical, and everyone is smarter too,” Esteban said.
Despite stepping into a backcourt reshaped by the departures of Forthsky Padrigao and Kyle Paranada, Cañete does not see his role as simply filling the void left by the former guards.
“Forthsky [Padrigao], that’s Forthsky. KP (Kyle Paranada), that’s KP. I’m different,” Cañete said.
While Cañete and Esteban bring familiarity with the program, the España-based squad also welcomed one-and-done recruits Landyn Jumawan, Donovan Sevilla and Lorenzo Abellar, who have already shown flashes of potential in preseason tournaments.
“I love the style. It’s fast-paced, get up, shoot a lot of threes,” Jumawan said.
The 6-foot-4 guard brings NCAA Division I experience from Northwestern State University and has quickly adjusted to head coach Pido Jarencio’s system of playing to each player’s strengths.
“I want to leave this place better than the way I found it. And that’s winning a championship,” Jumawan said.
The rookies look to start their UAAP Season 89 campaign on a high note against the UP Fighting Maroons on Sept. 13 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. F – with reports from Joshua Louis Sumanghid
