By: Dominic Adrian Veloso
The final piece to University of Santo Tomas’ championship aspirations in this UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament has arrived.
With over 10 days left before Season 89 tips off, the Growling Tigers secured the commitment of Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout Andrew Chio — a 6-foot-1 guard from Xavier School.
Chio played a key role for the Philippines over the summer, averaging 8.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in a flawless title run in the 2026 SEABA U-18 Championship.
The 18-year-old sharpshooter then provided 5.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in Gilas Youth’s eighth-place finish in the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup held in Ahmedabad, India last August.
“The experience was great for me. Getting ready for college ball by going up against teams like Australia and China has really helped my preparation going into college, especially since in HS, I wasn’t able to go up against players from UAAP juniors and NCAA juniors,” Chio told Tiebreaker Times in an exclusive interview.
“I had an opportunity to play in UAAP juniors but decided to stay with Xavier and try to be the next Xavierian to make it to UAAP.”
Chio’s arrival concluded a productive off-season for a UST side that inked a two-year contract extension with major backer San Miguel Corporation and head coach Pido Jarencio last January.
Over the summer, the Growling Tigers gained the commitments of one-and-done players Donovan Sevilla, Lorenzo Abellar, and Landyn Jumawan, alongside grassroots products in Kirk Cañete and Charles Esteban.
All these additions significantly strengthen UST’s depth for a team that already includes Season 88 Rookie of the Year Collins Akowe, Amiel Acido, Mark Llemit, Gelo Crisostomo, and Koji Buenaflor.
“Well, knowing that the jump from HS to college is no joke, being familiar with the coaches was a huge factor for me. Coach Japs [Cuan] and Coach Bam [Ledesma] have both been my coaches in my HS career with Xavier. And then I was fortunate enough to be able to play in the Gilas 18-U team this whole summer, which was coached by Coach Juno [Sauler]. That’s why going to UST was a no-brainer for me,” Chio shared.
“I’m very excited to be around these types of people every day. I’m sure they will push me to be better, and they have all welcomed me to the team with support, so I’m thankful for that.”
Chio will have five full years of eligibility with the Growling Tigers beginning this Season 89.
