Tigers aspire for decent finish in UAAP season

With its long-time coach and a slew of veterans gone, the road for the Santo Tomas Tigers in the coming UAAP cage wars will be a long, bumpy one.

But Nel Parado, now the man at the helm for the Tigers, replacing Aric del Rosario, isn’t bothered a bit but neither he is upbeat of their chances against a roster of teams teeming with talents this season.

"Realistically, we’ll be very happy if we can match our sixth place finish last year because the field is really strong this season," Parado told The STAR during their daily morning practice at the UST Gym.

Truly, Parado and the Tigers are in for tough times with the team hardpressed to bounce back from the school’s worst performance in more than a decade — a sixth place finish in a season ruled by the FEU Tamaraws.

That dismal showing forced del Rosario, author of UST’s four-peat feat in the mid-90s, to quit the team in the post season.

Compounding the Tigers woes are the departure of Alwyn Espiritu, a leading scorer, rebounder and shotblocker with 11.9-point, 8.2-rebound, and 1.3-block average last season, Dondon Villamin, Derrick Hubalde, Jinnino Manansala, Edcel del Rosario, Iago Raterta and Mark Nanninga.

That leaves holdovers like Christian Luanzon, Jemal Vizcarra, Warren de Guzman, Danny Pribdas and untested sophomores Allan Evangelista, Michael Sumalinog, Jun Dizon, Jun Cortez and Anthony Espiritu, younger brother of Alwyn, to carry the cudgels for the embattled team.

Glen Manching, who is back after a one-year absence, and rookies Japs Cuan, Jojo Duncil, Francis Aldera, Lourek Tong, Patrick Villanueva and 6’4" Fil-Aussie Chester Taylor will comprise UST’s team this season.

"Mahihirapan kami ngayon because some of our starters are no longer around but we will make sure to give them a fight," said team skipper Luanzon.

Familiarity with the players is also one problem Parado, who was Dong Vergaire’s assistant when he was with the San Beda Red Lions and the St. Benilde Blazers, will be trying to work out.

"Isa pa iyon dahil we have only little time to practice together considering that I was coaching UST in the PBL," said Parado, referring to UST’s stint under the banner of Sunkist in the Unity Cup last month.

But if there’s one player Parado would like to motivate with his potential and talent, it is Vizcarra.

"Jemal has already showed he can be a potent weapon if he wants to but he needs to be consistent. Kaya nga lagi ko siyang kinakausap kasi alam kong motivation lang ang kailangan niya," Parado said.

But Parado must not only concentrate on a single player but the entire team if he wants to contend, even for sixth place.