FILE– Sherwin Concepcion and the UST Growling Tigers. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The University of Santo Tomas will lose two of its key players for the upcoming UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
The Growling Tigers’ veterans Sherwin Concepcion and Bryan Santos were deemed ineligible to play for this season due to age restrictions, according to a report from UST’s official student publication The Varsitarian.
In the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum on Tuesday, UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag and President Fr. Aldin Suan discussed the league’s plans for next month and the technicality of the matter.
“Regarding the eligibility of the players, they should be below the age limit for the UAAP calendar,” Suan said.
Both players are 25 years old prior to the UAAP’s start on October 1 but Concepcion and Santos will turn 26 during the season, which will go above the league’s age-limit.
“So far, no other players are concerned regarding eligibility other than those two (Concepcion and Santos),” he added.
Concepcion finished Season 84 with averages of 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 14 games for UST.
Santos averaged 6.5 points, but balled out in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup with 10.43 points per game, norming 40.32 percent shooting from the field.
Both cagers were also part of the Growling Tigers’ run in the UAAP Season 84 3×3 competition where they captured the first gold medal in the said event.
Concepcion took home the event’s MVP plum, finishing with 12 points and the game-winner over La Salle, 21-20.
UST finished with a 3-11 record last season behind one-and-done skipper Joshua Fontanilla and both wing players under former coach Jino Manansala.
The Growling Tigers and new head copach Bal David will enter Season 85 with holdovers Nic Cabañero and Royce Mantua, both also from the team’s 3×3 run, and newcomers Echo Laure, Kylle Magdangal and Richi Calimag.