AFTER PLAYING five years for the UST Growling Tigers, forward Miguel “Migs” Pangilinan has decided to turn professional and play for his hometown team in the 2025 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Pangilinan, 25, signed with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns back in early February right after his last playing year in the UAAP.
The former UST co-captain said he inked a deal with his hometown team for its basketball program that developed his skills from amateur to professional level.
“This is where I grew up… because of the developmental program of Governor Delta Pineda, where I learned to play basketball competitively,” Pangilinan told The Flame.
“Ever since, it’s really a dream and privilege to play for your hometown,” he added.
Pangilinan said he wanted to carry the name of his home province in big leagues such as the MPBL.
“I am just busy at the moment… and then hopefully, I could have a full blast training and hopefully compete,” Pangilinan said.
In his last year with the Tigers, Pangilinan averaged 2.13 points and a rebound in only 8.44 minutes per game, helping UST achieve its first Final Four finish in four years.
The 6’0 sharpshooter aims to carry his five-year experience in UST to adapt to situations inside and outside the court in his MPBL debut.
“Lesson is being adaptable. I’ve been able to adapt to changes. From changes to the managers to coaches to players to utilities… but despite all those changes, I still chose the school,” Pangilinan said.
“I’ve been used to it. It is not a new environment anymore… I encountered it in UST,” he added.
Pangilinan expressed excitement in facing his former UST teammate Christian Manaytay, who signed with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in 2024.
“Excited and really looking forward to it because we’ve been teammates for many years,” he said. F
