TIGER CUBS standouts Kirk Cañete and Charles Esteban will move up to the UST Growling Tigers after completing their senior high school stint.
Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Inigo said the two cagers’ inclusion in the collegiate team is in line with the UST administration’s intended pathway for its players.
“Of course, we are very happy that our players from the high school program are staying in UST. That has always been the plan of Coach Pido and Father Rodel—that players from the high school team move up to the college team,” Inigo told The Flame.
UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. has remained in close coordination with graduating players to keep them within the program as they transition to the collegiate level.
“Well, I always tell them that I want all of them to move up to the seniors team because that has always been our plan and goal in high school,” Inigo said.
The tactician added that coaching staff’s main goal is to develop the Tiger Cubs and prepare them for the next level.
“UST trusted and supported us, so we keep reminding them that if they are recruited to the seniors team, UST should be their first option. We love UST, and I’m confident their future will be well taken care of here—not only in basketball but also in their academics,” he added.
The high school team officials, Inigo said, are always in touch with the Growling Tigers coaching staff and constantly talk to their players about staying in UST for college.
Cañete and Esteban have already begun training with the Growling Tigers after being included in the team’s lineup for the Asiabasket NSAC campaign this month.
Both players will be eligible to play starting in UAAP Season 89 and will have five playing years.
In their final run with the Tiger Cubs, Esteban averaged 7.07 points and 4.43 rebounds per game, while Cañete delivered across the board with 9.64 points, 5.21 rebounds, 7.21 assists, and 1.93 steals per outing.
UST fell short of a title repeat and slid to a sixth-place finish at 5-9 during their final season.
The duo will now team up once more with former Tiger Cubs champions Koji Buenaflor, Carl Manding, and Charles Bucsit from their Season 87 title squad, who are now playing for the Growling Tigers.
Esteban is set to reinforce a frontcourt rotation bannered by reigning Rookie of the Year Collins Akowe.
Meanwhile, Cañete is expected to add firepower to the Tigers’ backcourt following the exits of Forthsky Padrigao, Nic Cabañero, and Kyle Paranada.
The two last suited up in the NBTC National Finals in March, where the Tiger Cubs capped their campaign with a silver medal finish.
Also joining the new-look Growling Tigers is Donovan Sevilla, who has already begun integrating into the team setup, according to a team insider.
Sevilla has been with the squad since February and saw action in a pocket tournament in Loreto, Agusan del Sur. He is also included in the 21-man line up of the Growling Tigers in the NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour. F with reports from Joshua Louis Sumanghid
