University of Santo Tomas just got another tall winger for its rebuild.
The Growling Tigers has secured the commitment of 6-foot-3 Filipino-Australian Elijah Barret.
Barret played for Old School Basketball in Australia, helping the team to the Western Sydney Basketball Association and Basketball NSW (New South Wales) Youth League championships.
And for Elijah’s parents Kaz and Emerson, picking UST was a no-brainer.
“UST was an easy choice because we trust Coach Ji (Manansala) and also both my husband and I went to UST,” said Kaz, who studied in UST High until her junior year while Emerson finished college there.
There were two other schools that tried to recruit the 18-year-old, bared the Barrets but those schools wanted Elijah to repeat Grade 12.
Elijah has only been playing basketball for the last four years as he previously was a trackster that competed in long jump and 100m relay.
“He has always been athletic and always loved sports,” said Kaz as her son was also named as the 2019 and 2020 St Andrew’s Sportsman of the Year Award. “He started playing basketball only four years ago with his friends and then handpicked to play local and representative basketball because of his height and athleticism. His love for basketball grew since then.”
Another intriguing prospect UST got was 6-foot-5 Dave Magharing.
Magharing is an incoming freshman as well who is a product of Electron College Novaliches.
“Kaya po ako nag-tryout sa UST dahil maganda po yung programa sa basketball at quality ng edukasyon,” said the 20-year-old.
“Gagawin ko po lahat ng makakaya ko para po sa team pag sisikapan at paghihirapan ko po ng mabuti ang pag-eensayo po.”
Both Barret and Magharing will be eligible for UAAP Season 84.
The Tigers Cubs also got a couple of recruits in 6-foot guard Arjay Pantaleon and 6-foot-5 big Brix Reyno. Both are in Grade 11.
Also part of UST’s rookie class are Jordi Gomez de Liaño, Royce Mantua, Kean Baclaan, and Nicael Cabanero.
