De facto Tigers leader Cabanero upbeat with loaded cast

MANILA, Philippines – With perhaps the deepest team around him, University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers star Nic Cabanero voiced excitement with the new UAAP season just around the corner.

Cabanero, who has been the offensive anchor of UST in the past few years, will have a wealth of support in the UAAP Season 87.

With new faces in the team led by Forthsky Padrigao, Kyle Paranada, Geremy Robinson, Chase Lane, Ice Danting and Zain Mahmood, the team is now loaded from one through five. 

In an interview with Philstar.com, Cabanero said that he is happy not just with his new teammates, but also his new coaches in Coach Juno Sauler and Coach Peter Martin. 

“I’m happy with my new teammates and I’m happy with the new coaches also. I’m excited also to play with them and I think we’re ready to represent our school,” he stressed. 

“I’m so happy to be with them this season. I’d like to thank them for picking UST, and they can produce and they know their roles,” he added. 

“They showed their skills in every practice, and from our past offseason games. I believe in them and we will continue to grow as a team.” 

Cabanero, who led the league in scoring last season with 16.8 points per game, added that while they have a much deeper roster now, they have to keep their emotions in check. 

He cautioned against being overconfident, saying they take things one day at a time. 

“We are not focusing on just La Salle and UP. I think we focus more on all teams. A lot could happen, and even though you can say that this team is a contender, we should not be overconfident,” he said. 

“We’re gonna take it as a process and focus on one game at a time, win by win, and we’re gonna learn from our mistakes.” 

Since 2021, UST won just six games against 36 losses. 

For his part, head coach Pido Jarencio said he also has high hopes for the team. 

“Us, we are positive. I am positive. Aside from new faces in the team, we also added some in our coaching staff, true professional coaches, Coach Juno and Coach Peter. So this team, I built this,” he said.

“But of course, there is a process. Let’s see, this could not come overnight. But for us, we are positive,” he added.

Jarencio also underscored that it is not just one player’s squad. 

“This is not Nic Cabanero’s team, this is the UST team. This team, we will help each other,” he added, as he reiterated just how talented the new faces are. 

The Growling Tigers will kick off their campaign on Sunday, 1:30 p.m., against the University of the East Red Warriors.