Despite the heartbreak of a failed title defense, University of Santo Tomas head coach Manu Inigo remains confident that the Tiger Cubs’ difficult UAAP Season 88 campaign will ultimately serve as the foundation for a stronger comeback next year.
Fresh off ending a 24-year championship drought in Season 87, expectations were high for UST to repeat as champions, even against perennial contenders National University Nazareth School, Far Eastern University-Diliman, and Ateneo de Manila University.
However, the Tiger Cubs — who saw three key recruits in Ruzzel Del Poso, Aiden Tolentino, and Benedick Jimenez ruled ineligible for Season 88 — struggled to sustain their momentum. UST finished in sixth place with a 5–9 record, missing the Final Four.
The result marked the program’s worst campaign in a decade, dating back to Season 78 in 2016 when UST managed just three wins in 14 games.
Still, Inigo believes the difficult season will serve as a valuable lesson and reality check for the returning core heading into Season 89.
“Sinasabi ko naman sa kanila na from the start, mahihirapan ma-determine kung sino magcha-champion this season. Sa huli, dikit-dikit pa nga ang standings diba? We’ll be ready next year — ganon lang ka-simple,” the former San Beda mentor said after the Tiger Cubs closed Season 88 with a dominant 83–24 win over the UP Integrated School Fighting Maroons, Sunday afternoon at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
“We guarantee na we will do better next year kasi natuto rin kami sa nangyari sa amin this season. Sabi ko nga, end of season na bukas, pero magtatrabaho na agad kami for next season at magre-ready agad kami.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UST’s road to redemption will be tested by a major roster turnover, with eight players set to move on from the program — led by team captain Kirk Canete and co-captains Charles Esteban and Wacky Ludovice.
Although the trio, who all played key roles in UST’s Season 87 title run, were unable to steer the Tiger Cubs to a successful title defense, Inigo expressed pride in the resilience and maturity shown by Canete, Esteban, and Ludovice throughout the turbulent season.
Canete and Esteban will move on to the collegiate level of their basketball careers. Meanwhile, Ludovice — currently 19 years old — will take a gap year after becoming ineligible to return in Season 89 due to age restrictions.
Also graduating from the program are Liam Acido, Nigerian center Ola Ajani, Kyle Bandigan, Jetlee Melano, and Carsson Vidanes.
“Sabi ko nga, it doesn’t matter naman kung nag-champion o hindi. Basta, ang importante sa amin ay natuto sila sa amin at may nadala silang lessons na galing sa grupo namin. Hindi lang sa basketball, kasi pati sa outside life ng basketball, ginaguide namin lahat ’yan. So happy kami na kung ano sila ngayon,” Inigo explained.
“And hopefully, hanggang mag-college sila, yung disiplina nila, yung respeto nila sa ibang tao, dapat dala-dala pa rin nila.”
Despite the challenging season and the looming departures, Inigo emphasized that championships are not the sole measure of the program’s success.
For the third-year Tiger Cubs head coach, the bigger goal has always been to develop players at the grassroots level and prepare them for the collegiate stage — whether that means suiting up for UST under head coach Pido Jarencio or joining another program in the UAAP or NCAA.
“Well, again, gusto namin makabalik sa Final Four, ‘yon yung first goal namin sa next UAAP season. Siyempre, kung kaya namin mag-champion ulit, siyempre kukunin at pipilitin naming makuha ‘yan,” Inigo said.
“Pero again, the main goal is to develop the players na pati sa college level; makapagdala kami sa men’s team ng UST. Then bonus na lang yung championships na yan sa amin ‘eh. Sabi ko nga, natututo naman kami sa nangyayari. So, hopefully, ma-regain namin yung pag-dominate namin sa high school level.”
The Tiger Cubs will next shift their focus to the wildcard draw of the 2026 SMART-NBTC National Finals before capping their Season 88 campaign in the boys’ 3×3 basketball tournament.
