UST coach keeps hopes up despite short preparation time

Tigers run practice as UST head coach Rodil Sablan looks on. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson

DESPITE the short preparation time he had, University of Santo Tomas head coach Boy Sablan still considers the Growling Tigers’ runner-up finish in the 1st Recoletos de Cebu Cup in Cebu a success.

“Yung preparation namin was very short, but we were still able to beat the top three teams dito sa Cesafi,” he told INQUIRER.net on Sunday.

UST swept the elimination round, downing Cebuano heavyweights USJ-R, USC, and UV before falling to the Jaguars in the championship game.

Still, there’s a reason for Sablan to feel optimistic as he employs his system to the team.

“Maiksi yung mahigit one month na pinagsamahan namin, pero masaya ako na nagawa na namin dito yung mga gusto naming gawin. What more kung mas mahaba pa ang oras namin?” he said. “Ang gusto lang namin is ma-polish yung mga ginagawa namin every day.”

Louie Vigil and Jamil Sheriff have already joined the Growling Tigers in the four-team pocket tournament in Cebu despite practicing with the team for about two weeks.

Though Sablan noted that the two’s infusion to the crew gives them more weapons, he believes that the team still has a long way to go before they can consider themselves ready for UAAP Season 79.

“Napakaganda na ng ginagawa namin, pero napakalaki pa ng improvement na magagawa ng mga players,” he said. “Kinikilala pa rin natin yung players during the process, pero at least nakikita na natin ngayon kung sino yung magiging part ng rotation natin.”

UST will next participate in the 2016 Buddha Light International Association Cup in Taiwan to continue its preseason buildup.