UAAP: Christian Manaytay, Nic Cabañero relish winning time with UST

Christian Manaytay and Nic Cabañero headed to the UST Growling Tigers bench during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Christian Manaytay and Nic Cabañero have been with the University of Santo Tomas through some of the worst times in recent history.

The guard-big duo donned the Growling Tigers jersey during the squad’s abysmal past seasons when wins were scarce and far apart.

Now, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, UST is off to its best start in quite a while with a 3-1 card.

And surprise, surprise… Cabañero and Manaytay are still in the Tigers’ den.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

“It’s overwhelming,” said an exhausted Manaytay after helping UST squeak past National University, 67-64, at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

“I’m happy because, coming from previous years, we kept on losing and it felt like we were losing our winning culture. I know we’ll go somewhere this season.”

Manaytay played true to his role—a veteran big—with 14 points, five rebounds plus three assists to help UST gain its winningest start since Season 82.

Season 82 was quite foreign to Manaytay and Cabañero. After all, it was during the time of former coach Aldin Ayo and stars Rhenz Abando, Mark Nonoy, CJ Cansino and Soulemane Chabi-Yo, to name a few.

READ: UAAP: UST loss to Adamson a ‘wake-up call,’ says Nic Cabañero

A few mishaps, controversies and revamps later, UST ushered in a new age–this time with rookies Cabañero and Manaytay.

But what was predicted as a new start fizzled into nothing as UST entered a dark era with the sudden departure of its stars and  Manaytay and Cabañero were caught smack-dab in the middle of it all.

“Before, I even felt like I didn’t want to play anymore,” bared Manaytay, still trying to catch his breath from an intense affair with the Bulldogs.

“We kept on losing but now, I believe we have a chance.”

Through ‘ECQ’ and back

Nic Cabañero helps UST Growling Tigers past NU Bulldogs in the in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“As far as I remember, way back after Season 84, we thought of staying or leaving. I didn’t tell him directly, but I thought we should stay because we’ll be leading this team,” revealed Cabañero following another sweet night from the field in NU’s win over UST.

From UAAP Seasons 84 to 86, the once mighty Tigers just tallied six measly wins.

But after three seasons full of heartbreak, the team got quite the turnaround–not just with the arrival of Pido Jarencio, but also with support of the San Miguel corporation and its several recruits, most notably former Ateneo standout Forthsky Padrigao.

READ: UAAP: UST Tigers–no longer sporting buzz cuts–are buzzing

“We are nearing the end of our playing years so it’s a big thing for us to develop with this college program [with SMC]. It will help us grow into the professional level,” said Cabañero, who dropped 10 points and five rebounds on Saturday’s special.

Manaytay and Cabañero’s bond goes deeper than UST’s consecutive losing seasons.

During the bubble, when UST slowly crumbled due to the “Sorsogon bubble” fiasco, the duo served their residency in Manila during the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ: New UST star Forthsky Padrigao is a point—not points—guard

So from losing games to being stuck due to a pandemic, Manaytay and Cabañero have been through hell and back.

“I’ve been with Christian even during the ECQ (Enhanced community quarantine) here in Manila and our bond together is just there,” said Cabañero. “We quarrel sometimes but deep inside, I know Christian is there for me always, same as me who’s always there for him.”