INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Disappointed after finishing fifth place last season, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers are focusing on their running game this time around.

Unlike other schools like De La Salle and Ateneo who had the luxury of training abroad, the Tiger have been doing intensive training right in their own backyard.

Coach Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio candidly admits they do not have enough resources to fund a trip abroad.

The Tigers, nonetheless, are working on their running game to make up for lack of ceiling in their frontline.

“I have seen their improvement and our team is a lot faster now,” said Jarencio, who was named coach of the year in 2006 after the Tigers defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles to win the title.

Star player Dylan Ababou, who suited up for the Smart Gilas national squad in the recent Fiba-Asia Champions Cup in Indonesia, will be back next season.

Jarencio is expecting Ababou to bring to the team enough experience from his stint with the Smart Gilas national team.

“Yes, we’ll be depending on our shooter Dylan but I am glad to see that all the members are contributing well to the team in the past tune up games we had,” Jarencio said. He said it is more important that all members desire to help the team rather than only helping one player to shine in every game.

UST will play Adamson University in the opening match scheduled on July 11 at the Araneta Coliseum.