AFTER a successful UAAP Season 87 title run as a Tiger Cub, winger Carl Manding will now head to Katipunan and continue his collegiate hoop stint with the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Following his senior high school graduation, Manding took to social media to formally announce his departure from the España university.
“I am committing to continue my journey as a true student-athlete at the Ateneo de Manila University and to play for the Blue Eagles under Coach Tab Baldwin,” Manding said in a social media post.
“I sincerely thank Ateneo, Coach Tab, and the entire Ateneo community for trusting, accepting, and giving me the chance to be part of the proud traditions of Ateneo basketball. I promise to represent the school with steadfast dedication, commitment and respect,” he added.
The graduating player expressed his gratitude to UST and its community.
“I am proud to have worn the UST colors and have won [the] UAAP Season 87 championship with you,” he said.
According to UST team manager Wayip Chong, there were no prior commitments from Manding that he would stay in the Tigers’ lair, as he had already received multiple offers from other schools.
“No idea… He hasn’t committed [to UST] yet.” Chong told The Flame.
Last April, the 6-foot-3 Manding, together with fellow standout Tiger Cubs Koji Buenaflor and Charles Bucsit, decided to continue in the seniors’ program.
“No comment, that’s their decision,” Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Inigo said when asked to react to Manding’s announcement
“It’s sad, but there’s nothing we can do because that’s their decision,” he added.
Assistant coach Juben Ledesma emphasized the importance of players remaining focused throughout the season despite receiving offers to play for other teams.
“We try to recruit all of them, because they are our homegrown talents,” Ledesma said.
“We want the best for them… But that’s what concerns us, that teams talk to them during the finals.”
In his last year with the Tiger Cubs, Manding posted 8.53 points and five rebounds per game to help UST end the 24-year title drought in the boys’ basketball division.
Prior to Season 87, Manding also logged minutes for the Gilas Pilipinas Youth squad that swept the 2024 U18 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Chong clarified that big man Zain Mahmood is still with the Growling Tigers despite reports of his exit.
“He’s still with UST… He hasn’t formally informed us that he’s leaving yet,” Chong said.
Mahmood was part of the Tigers’ lineup in the PinoyLiga Cup, U-Belt Cup, PinoyLiga Invitationals and the ongoing FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
The Filipino-Canadian center joined UST in March 2024 as a former Gilas Youth standout and played a reserve role in UAAP Season 87. He averaged 0.29 points and 0.71 rebounds in under four minutes per game off the bench.
He was also part of the UST’s 3×3 team, which earned a silver medal in the UAAP. F – Joshua Louis Sumanghid with reports from Mc Neil Zyh Serrano
