Numerous reports have circulated over the past few weeks regarding the dissatisfaction by “some members” of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers with their head coach Boy Sablan.
However, one by one, members of both Sablan’s coaching staff and student-athletes from the team have come out to defend the incoming second-year UST mentor.
“Sobrang bait ni coach Boy.
“Kahit nga anong hilingin ng mga players binibigay niya, tulad ng puwedeng kumain sa ganito… Hindi siya mahirap kausap,” said assistant coach Tylon Dar Juan Sunday afternoon after UST was defeated by San Beda.
“Kahit ako gulat din ako sa mga yun kasi yung sinasagot ko, sinasagot din ng iba kaya natatawa na lang ako,” furthered skipper Marvin Lee, who was recruited by the school back in 2015.
One of the reports had Mario Bonleon go on record and state that there are players who got into the team due to their parents “buying” the spot for their son. Lee, an incoming junior, was quick to debunk it, saying that it was hard work that made him earn his minutes — just like everyone else.
“Kahit itanong mo sa iba yan hindi totoo yung sinasabi ni Embons [Bonleon].
“Babayaran para makapaglaro? Bakit ako ba nagbayad? Siya ba nagbayad? Kahit tanong niyo pa kina-Kevin [Ferrer],” the 19-year-old floor general expressed. “Kahit ako nagtaka nung unang game nung UAAP parehas kami ni Embons na inupo, tapos bakit nung ginamit ako nagbayad ba ako?
“Pinush ko yung sarili ko para magamit ako, kasi nagtataka ako bakit ako nakaupo. Tapos parehas kaming naguusap, ‘Bons bakit tayo nakaupo, tayo yung ginamit nung last year natin?'” Lee furthered.
On the other hand, a separate report said that multiple Growling Tigers are mulling of leaving the team as early as last Wednesday after an alleged “tongue-lashing” the team received after losing to Letran in overtime.
Against San Beda, UST did not have the services of Christian Bernardo, Joco Macasaet, Reggie Boy Basibas, and Zachary Huang. But it was not because they left the team according to both Dar Juan and Lee.
“Nagpaalam silang lahat.
“Si Christian nasiko ni Jeepy [Faundo] kahapon [in practice]. Tapos sabi niya di kaya ilaro kaya nasira rotation. Si Zach may kasal na pinuntahan. Si Joco umuwi ng batangas at si Basibas umuwi rin. Sabi nila may aatendan lang na importante,” Dar Juan disclosed.
“Nagulat kami nung last huddle namin, sabi nagmumura daw si coach. Hindi naman si coach yung nagsasalita eh, pinagsalita niya kami isa-isa kaya kami nagtagal ng isang oras,” said Lee, adding that Sablan is just two weeks off from recovering from a minor surgery.
Despite all the negative press that Sablan and the team have received, the Growling Tigers are looking to move past this together and as a team.
“Sinasabi lang nila coach Boy na huwag magpadala kasi di naman nila alam mga totoong nangyayari.
“Sa akin parang gawa gawa lang yan. Wala tayong magagawa ganyan talaga,” the youthful assistant coach closed.
