When the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs step out of their huddles during the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament, which tips off this Sunday, they won’t be shouting “One for UST.”
Instead, they will rally behind the chant: “Alfred!”
The Tiger Cubs will take the court with heavy hearts as they open their season against the NUNS Bullpups at the Filoil Ecooil Centre, playing without their big man, Alfred Loreto.
Loreto, a 6-foot-7 senior big man, was diagnosed with Pituitary Macroadenoma, or a brain tumor, earlier this week.
According to team manager Tina Maralit, Loreto began experiencing severe headaches and vomiting.
When the pain became unbearable, he was admitted to the hospital, where doctors discovered the tumor.
Fortunately, it was caught early, and the mass was described as being “smaller than a grape.”
(C) UST Tiger Cubs
Despite the early detection, Loreto, who will turn 18 on February 8, will undergo surgery on Sunday to remove the tumor.
In their final practice before the season opener, second-year head coach Manu Inigo gathered his players and called on them to play with extra motivation in honor of their teammate.
“We are dedicating this season to Alfred. We’re playing for him, especially during this difficult time. His injury is a big loss for us, especially since he was stepping in for Koji (Buenaflor) and Racine (Kane). This will inspire us,” Inigo said.
