WHEN UST brought the elusive UAAP boys’ basketball title back to España after 24 years last March 27, coaching staff from rival schools were in the audience, possibly eyeing Tiger Cubs they could lure into their roster.
The UST Tiger Cubs, who captured the UAAP Season 87 crown through an 83-77 winner-take-all overtime victory over the feisty NUNS Bullpups, will be losing the services of seven cagers who are set to graduate this year.
However, boys’ team head coach Manu Iñigo is certain that the Growling Tigers’ coaches and management have consistently strived to keep his wards inside the UST lair and absorb them into the men’s basketball program.
“Coach Pido [Jarencio] and the managers of the men’s team already talked to our graduating players and they are all interested in getting our Cubs to the senior’s level,” Iñigo told The Flame.
The graduating pack is headlined by top high school prospect and prized team captain Koji Buenaflor, along with foreign student-athlete Racine Kane. Joining them are Charles Bucsit, Carl Manding, Alfred Loreto, Jude Javier and Duke Solon.
Head tacticians from rival schools, namely, Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Tab Baldwin and UP Fighting Maroons’ Goldwin Monteverde, were seen during Game 3 of the finals at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Iñigo expressed enthusiasm that champion coaches are scouting UST athletes who can become valuable assets of title-contending teams.
“Of course we feel proud that champion coaches are watching and enjoying the game,” he said.
“It just shows that our players and our program are both being recognized and we’re on the right track because other schools are scouting our players to make it to the next level,” he added.
Kane was named Finals MVP after anchoring UST with 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, two steals and 1.6 blocks in three contests. The Senegalese big man was instrumental in the winner-take-all Game 3, chalking up a monster 28-point, 17-rebound double-double.
Meanwhile, Buenaflor had an off night offensively but was still able to finish with 12 markers, 15 boards and six assists.
Iñigo said the seniors’ squad has held conversations with the outgoing Tiger Cubs but is standing by until the boys’ campaign draws to a complete close so they can make the commitments official.
“[T]hey have been talking constantly and they are just waiting for our season to end so they can formalize everything,” he said.
The Tiger Cubs finished the Season 87 eliminations as the second-best squad with a 12-2 slate, only behind the Bullpups with 13-1. This is a huge leap from UST’s back-to-back fourth-place finishes in Seasons 85 and 86.
With their first breakout since Season 64 back in 2001, the Tiger Cubs sealed their 12th title to become the second-winningest squad in UAAP boys’ basketball. The triumph also completed a golden double for UST after the Junior Growling Tigresses won the girls’ crown.
Throughout the season, Iñigo constantly told his players to focus on their studies so they could have a better future with or without basketball.
“We always remind them to take away bad habits and keep playing hard everytime they step into the court… We tell them to enjoy what we’re doing and not let pressure affect their game,” he said.
Being the fifth coach to win both the NCAA and UAAP juniors’ basketball titles, Iñigo encouraged the graduating Tiger Cubs to stay in UST to continue what they have already began.
“Thank you for giving your best for the school… keep working hard and be better every single day… Continue living your dreams,” he said. F
