UAAP Season 79 Preview: Despite little prep time, Sablan expects fight from UST

UST head coach Boy Sablan. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Head Coach: Boy Sablan
Last season: 11-3 (Runner-up)
Key holdovers: Louie Vigil, Marvin Lee, Jamil Sheriff, coach Bong dela Cruz
Key losses: Kevin Ferrer, Ed Daquioag, Karim Abdul
Key additions: William Afaokwah

University of Santo Tomas may be this season’s host, but new head coach Boy Sablan is tempering expectations for the Growling Tigers this year.

“Three months lang ang preparation natin. Ginawa naman natin ang lahat para maihanda ang mga bata,” he said.

Named as the Growling Tigers’ mentor last June, Sablan had little time to familiarize himself with the team.

But he feels no pressure in matching the expectations as the team lost most of the key cogs from last year’s runner-up line-up.

“Ang daming nawala sa atin na beterano. Mangilan-ngilan na lang ang natira, karamihan pa sa kanila, mga bata,” he said.

UST shocked a lot when it made a dream run to the Finals in Season 78 before falling to Far Eastern University in the championship series.

Though he’s parading a young Growling Tigers team, Sablan believes they won’t fold easily and can spring up a few surprises here and there.

“Tiwala ako na lalaban naman yung team natin,” he said. “Andyan pa rin yung puso, pride, at pagiging palaban ng mga bata.”

Leading the fort will be seniors Louie Vigil and Jamil Sheriff, as well as sophomore guard Marvin Lee and new Cameroonian recruit William Afaokwah.

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