Nic Cabañero shoots for UAAP title in UST farewell

‘All I would like for my remaining 12 months is to win a championship,’ says Nic Cabañero as he hopes to bid UST goodbye in type by main the Tigers to a long-awaited UAAP crown

MANILA, Philippines – A minimum of a UAAP championship will fulfill Nic Cabañero in his remaining run with UST. 

On Monday, September 15, the graduating star declared that his remaining UAAP 12 months shall be devoted to delivering a championship to the Growling Tigers.

“All I would like for my remaining 12 months is to win a championship,” Cabañero mentioned in Filipino throughout the UAAP Season 88 collegiate basketball press convention on the Gloria Maris Restaurant in San Juan. “We are going to simply must do our greatest, particularly since everybody additionally desires to win.”

Cabañero has been with UST since 2021, enduring a few of the worst years of this system, together with a 6-36 stretch throughout his first three years with the Tigers. 

Nonetheless, final 12 months noticed a distinct flip as Cabañero led UST to its first Closing 4 look in 5 years. 

Cabañero additionally earned a spot within the Legendary Group after averaging 16.3 factors per recreation. 

With a Closing 4 expertise below his belt, the cumbersome guard doesn’t wish to let his remaining shot at a UAAP title slide. 

“That is my final 12 months so I hope we will put together properly in each recreation, as a result of everybody desires to get the championship too,” he mentioned. “However for me, I feel we will accomplish it.”

Cabañero additionally credited the expansion of the group to move coach Pido Jarencio, who shall be in his third 12 months with the Tigers since returning to the college in 2023. 

“Coach Pido has been guiding us properly all through the offseason in our different leagues and overseas after we practice,” Cabañero mentioned. “He has been a giant a part of what we’re constructing in UST, and even he additionally is raring to win the title.”

The group went to South Korea final month for a two-week coaching camp, going up in opposition to different college groups and a few Korean Basketball League squads. 

For Cabañero, it was a great check for the group because the Tigers additional enhanced their chemistry forward of Season 88.

“Our chemistry has been good, particularly since a few of these guys have been with us since final 12 months, so now we have already created a bond.”

Except for Cabañero, his backcourt associate, Forthsky Padrigao, may even be taking part in within the UAAP for the final time.

Padrigao was one in all UST’s largest recruits because it secured the backing of San Miguel Company for its basketball program. 

The group may even introduce former UAAP highschool basketball MVP Collins Akowe within the collegiate division after the 6-foot-10 heart transferred from NU to UST for school. 

UST will open its season at its personal turf, taking part in on the college’s Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday, September 21, in opposition to the defending champions UP Preventing Maroons. – Rappler.com