Still trying to regain offensive rhythm, UST's Cabanero focuses on defense for now

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning UAAP scoring champion Nic Cabanero has been struggling offensively in two games so far for the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.

But despite this, the guard is focusing on helping the team string up wins as they shot up to the top of the standings early on in UAAP Season 87.

Cabanero, who has been the league-leading scorer the past two seasons, is averaging just 12.5 points per game on 29% shooting.

However, the Tigers have growled to two straight convincing wins -- against University of the East and Ateneo to go up 2-0 -- sharing the lead with defending champion La Salle Green.

Cabanero, who scored 11 points on 5-of-17 shooting to go with six rebounds and four assists against the Blue Eagles, admitted that he has been struggling on making his shots so far.

“I’ve been struggling on the offensive side. Right now, I’m just thinking that for as long as we win, I’ll just play good defense that the coaches want, the scoring will come to me,” he told Philstar.com in Filipino.

And come, it did.

Cabanero hit big shots in the fourth quarter to help UST turn a four-point deficit to a 12-point lead, 72-60, with two minutes remaining.

The wing added that he is happy to have his work lighter this time around, since the team now has a number of players who could put up points on the board.

“My work is now a lot lighter and of course, whenever they need me, I’ll just do my role and I will focus on helping my team win.”

Against Ateneo, four players ended in double figures. Foreign student-athlete Mo Tounkara and Gelo Crisostomo stood out with double-doubles, with the former having 16 points and 14 rebounds and the latter registering 16 markers and 10 boards.

Cabanero’s 11 was backstopped by Mark Llemit’s 10 points off the bench.

“We’re happy and we’re gonna absorb this win and we’re gonna focus on the next game against Adamson,” said Cabanero.

Long way to go

For his part, Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio is keeping the team’s emotions in check, saying that while they are already far from where they started, there is still a long way to go.

UST has matched the two triumphs they recorded last season in two games. The Espana-based squad also recorded its first win against the Blue Eagles in nine years and their first victory over a team coached by Tab Baldwin.

“This is still far. Two games, in the first round, there is still the second round,” Jarencio told reporters in Filipino after the game.

“But the good thing is, we are stringing together wins. We are collecting wins now. So that when it comes to the second round, it will be tougher, at least we got wins now,” he added.

“Our goal is to take things one game at a time, and enter the Final Four. That is what we’re aiming for.”

The mentor also emphasized the importance of focusing on improving in practice.

“Mental and physical aspects, we have to focus. And then, we stay humble and stay on the ground,” he said.

“In our minds, we are yet to achieve anything. We won two games, it is part of growing up so we can say we are a strong team,” he added.

In his first game against his former team, Forthsky Padrigao shot a horrendous 2-of-12 from the field for six points, but had nine assists, three rebounds and a +16.

Padrigao said he believes that with the win over Ateneo, UST could now go head-to-head against stronger teams in the league.

“We can compete against strong teams, I mean we can compete because I have trust in my teammates. I can see that even during our preparations, they are locked in, focused so it is not new for me to see them perform well.”

The Tigers will try to continue rolling as they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, September 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.