Nic Cabañero felt that he could have done better for University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The 20-year-old student-athlete was part of another dismal UST campaign. The Growling Tigers ended with a 2-12 record despite so much excitement during the off-season due to the arrival of coach Pido Jarencio and his ‘Superfriends’ stable.
Despite being one of the Growling Tigers’ bright sparks in their elimination round campaign, Cabañero said that he was a work in progress.
“Actually, hindi nga ako satisfied sa game ko eh. Pero kailangan ko rin i-improve sarili ko as their leader. Natutuwa din ako sa panalo namin ngayon kasi masaya mga teamates ko. I hope ma-continue namin yung chemistry next season,” he said after contributing eight points and six rebounds in UST’s 57-53 win over Far Eastern University.
Cabañero has been in the UAAP for three seasons already but has yet to taste what it is like to take part in a winning season. He went 3-11 in his rookie year back in Season 84 and went 1-13 in Season 85.
The Growling Tigers are far away from being a championship contender, let alone being a team that qualifies for the Final Four. It was been five years now since the UST faithful experienced life in the postseason and the wait continues.
“Dahil din kase rebuilding kami. So, new players every year, paiba-iba yung coaches every season. So everytime medyo may adjustment. Parang every year may issue or pangit yung nangyari,” said the 6-foot-2 scorer.
“Noong first season namin wala kaming foreign student-athlete, nung Season 84. Noong Season 85 naman, almost ang roster namin puro bago eh. Konti lang kaming na-retain, mga lima lang kami. Tapos for this season naman, wala nanaman kaming magaling na foreign student-athlete.”
Come Season 87, UST will parade the likes of Forthsky Padrigao and Kyle Paranada. Both players will have completed their residency by then and are expected to boost the Growling Tigers after producing stellar performances for their past schools.
It will be interesting to see how UST will perform next season with both players as well as their recruits. Hopes are high that the school can finally make progress after three years in the wilderness.
“Excited na rin ako for the next season na meron na kaming residency na recruited from other school. I do hope din na makaperform sila. Andon yung eagerness nila na to show the school (Thomasian) Pride sa UST,” he said.
Now, the question is if Cabañero will return to UST next year. These past few years have seen prominent UAAP players get signed up by foreign professional teams and he is rumored to be one of the guys eyed by these ballclubs.
The guy himself is not so sure but is not ruling out staying with the Growling Tigers.
“Let’s see. Pero as much as possible, gusto ko tapusin yung academics ko. Titignan ko pa kung ano yung options pwede para sa akin. Pero as much as possible gusto ko mag-stay,” the 20-year-old young gun said.
