The Growling Tigers are ready to ROAR!

 

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GROWLING TIGERS

UAAP Season 82 (2019) record: 8-6 4^TH place after elimination round

Beat FEU in knock-out game, Beat UP twice to advance to the finals,

Lost to ATENEO 0-2 in the Finals.

Coach: Jinno Manansala (1st Season)

Subtractions: Henry Subido, Enrique Caunan Jr. Zach Huang, Brent Paraiso, Rhenz Abando, CJ Cansino, Ira Battaller, Alberto Bordeos, Ferdinand Asuncion, Mark Nonoy, Vince Cuajao, Nathaniel Cosejo,

Decommitted: Soulemane Chabi Yo, Bismarck Lina

Holdovers: Arnold Ando,  Sherwin Concepcion, Miguel Pangilinan

Additions:

Transferees:  Christian Manaytay (DLSU) Royce Mantua (FEU) Aldave Canoy (WNU) Renzel Yongco (DLSU)

Team B:  Joshua Fontanilla, Ian Herrera, Bryan Santos, Bryan Samudio,  JJ Gesalem

Rookies: Paul Manalang (NU) Jordi Gomez de Liano (UPIS) Nic Cabanero (UST),  Rafael Pangilinan (Ateneo) Joshua Garing (LPU)

Reserves: Patrick Javier, , Rafael Biag (UST) Ivan Lazarte

Background: 

The UST Growling Tigers were the hottest team in Season 82 until they got bumped by the eventual champions Ateneo. In the elimination round they almost beat the Blue Eagles and knocked out a stacked UP Maroons squad.

Unfortunately, during the 2020 lockdown tragedy struck after the so-called Sorsogon bubble exposed some problems that led to CJ Cansino leaving the Tiger’s liar. As an effect Coach Aldin Ayo was barred from Coaching UST that led to a lot of his players leaving their team and committing to play elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

Key changes: 

The biggest change here comes from the head coach position which is now

ably filled by former Growling Tiger Jinno Manansala. Coach Jinno has handled two schools in the NAASCU and has won multiple titles with the UM Hawks and St. Clare Saints. Now he is in the biggest stage of collegiate basketball and ready to strut his wares. Unfortunately, he has come at a time when the tigers are rebuilding. In a way he has gotten lots of commitments from different players but so far none as big as the haul of UP and DLSU had. Getting rookies Paul Manalang from NU, Jordi Gomez de Liano from UPIS and Nic Cabanero from their UST Juniors squad helps them build the foundation for the future. There are only three holdovers from their previous squad with Sherwin Concepcion, Dave Ando and Michael Pangilinan leading the charge. Foreign Student Athlete Adama Faye who replaced season 82 MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo did not come back when he went back to Senegal to do something personal. That means the Tigers will play without an FSA. Look for Joshua Fontanilla, Bryan Santos, Bryan Samudio and Royce Mantua to fill in the gap of the Tigers with their experience from their previous teams.

 

Outlook: 

This team is still playing under the shadow of Coach Aldin Ayo with Coach Jinno and assistant Coach McJour Luib continuing where Ayo left them.  That means if you take them for granted they will use that to secure a win. Look for more three-point shooting with Sherwin Concepcion, superb court point guard duties by Joshua Fontanilla  and Paul Manalang. At the same time, Nic Cabanero will be let loose and show his wares this year. The experience of Ando, Manaytay, Samudio and Santos will definitely help plug the middle and fend off the big Foreign student athletes of the other schools.

 

Forecast:

The Growling Tigers have adequate arsenal to win but will most probably languish at the lower part of the standings. Their frontline will most definitely be taken advantaged off by the bigger squads and will most likely place at around 6^th at best. Look for them to give Adamson and NU a run for their money to be able to secure fight for sixth.

photos from UAAP Varsity Channel and Varsitarian