Defending the crown has never been a comfortable place to stand, and for University of Santo Tomas head coach Manu Inigo, that discomfort and challenge is exactly where growth begins.
Fresh from witnessing what many regarded as the most competitive UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament in recent memory during the first semester of Season 88, Inigo is bracing for an equally unforgiving 19-and-under landscape as he leads the Tiger Cubs into their title defense in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
At the collegiate level, the tournament proved just how razor-thin the margins have become. All but one team remained in playoff contention heading into the final week of eliminations, with games decided by an average of just 6.2 points — clear proof that parity across the league is now the norm.
For Inigo, that same level of balance could be even more pronounced in the highly competitive UAAP boys’ basketball scene. The landscape features perennial contenders National University Nazareth School and Far Eastern University-Diliman, alongside emerging threats University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University.
“Ang maganda lang talaga ngayon, every game counts. Talagang hindi mo sigurado kung sino yung mananalo. Parang yung nangyari sa seniors, right from the start, hindi mo alam sino yung pwede mag-champion. Ganoon din tayo ngayon dito sa juniors level. Walang guarantees at walang sigurado,” the multi-titled mentor across the UAAP and NCAA told Tiebreaker Times in an exclusive interview.
“Preparation at practice lang sa ensayo, tsaka maniwala lang dapat sa sistema katapat niyan. Marami pang dapat trabahuin kasi marami tayong mga bata sa lineup, pero ganoon din naman yung mga kalaban natin — medyo bata naman yung iba,” he added.
Gone are the days when just two or three programs dictated the tempo of UAAP boys’ basketball, a reality that was most evident in the pre-pandemic era when Ateneo de Manila University and NUNS led the way.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Heading into Season 88, all but Adamson University and University of the Philippines Integrated School will parade formidable foreign student-athletes. Meanwhile, rivals such as FEU-D and NUNS lean on intact cores and rising standouts developed through their grassroots programs.
Still, Inigo remains confident that UST should not be counted out. While the Tiger Cubs have moved on from Racine Kane, Koji Buenaflor, Charles Bucsit, and Carl Manding, they retain a talented group led by skipper Kirk Canete, co-captains Wacky Ludovice and Charles Esteban, and Nigerian center Ola Ajani.
That stable core is further reinforced by key recruits Daniel Sta. Maria and Simon Pulongbarit, alongside homegrown contributors Dustin Bathan and Jhon Canapi. With that mix, Inigo and the Tiger Cubs are not shying away from the daunting task of defending the crown — they are embracing it.
“We accept the challenge. Talagang yun naman ang gusto natin. Every year, compete tayo ng compete. Para at least maganda ngayon, hindi natin sigurado sino talaga yung mag-champion,” Inigo shared.
“Ngayon yung pumalit naman sa core nila, ayon nga, sila Wacky, Kirk, Liam, tsaka si Charles. Talagang every year, ganoon naman, talagang step-by-step kami. By the process lang talaga kami. Kaya hindi naman ako nag-alala kasi mas na-ready naman yung bagong core,” he went on.
Right out of the gate, Inigo’s wards will be tested by FEU-D, which arguably boasts the most intact lineup from Season 87, bannered by Mythical Five member Cabs Cabonilas alongside Jheremy Godoy, Marc Burgos, Yosef Raneses, and JB Cagurungan.
For the young mentor, opening the season against a familiar rival like FEU-D could be a timely barometer for a UST squad carrying a target on its back as defending champions, with their season opener set for tomorrow at 12 noon.
“Well, syempre, maganda rin sa amin ‘yon na FEU agad yung kalaban sa first game. At least, makikita na agad namin ano yung mga kailangan i-adjust. Makikita rin namin kung nasaan yung team natin ngayon,” he said.
“Pero, ayon nga, lahat naman ng teams, nirerespeto namin, at lahat ng teams, pinaghahandaan namin and we will prepare for FEU.”
