Exciting, tougher UST squad to debut in 13th Filioil preseason tiff

MANILA, Philippines – The UST Growling Tigers are one of the eagerly anticipated teams for this coming Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.

They are playing so well in the PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup where they tote a 5-1 record and are the league’s top scoring team with 103 points per game.

Like their distaff counterparts in UAAP volleyball, this team has become so much better with talented newcomers.

The recent additions to Aldin Ayo’s team have been significant contributors. The biggest and perhaps most significant newcomer is 23-year-old Benin-born 6’6” forward-center Soulemane Chabi Yo, who is ready to go after sitting out a year’s residency after transferring from Colegio de San Lorenzo.

There is scoring sensation Mark Nonoy from the UST Tiger Cubs, 6’2” Rhenz Abando, who transferred from Philippine College of Science and Technology, and Brent Paraiso, who played for Ayo in La Salle.

They will join holdovers Marvin Lee, Renzo Subido, Zach Huang, Joshua Marcos, Dave Ando — who should get more playing time this year — Nat Cosejo and Ira Bataller. 

Making his debut with UST after sitting out a year is former Mapua juniors star Sherwin Concepcion.

Other newcomers include Maloney Tarranza from Assumption College of Davao, Ferdinand Asuncion from Chiang Kai Shek College, Jade Talampas from San Beda High School, Albert Bordeos from La Salle Greenhills, as well as Renzel Yongco and Ian Herrera from transferred from La Salle.

UST spotted Tarranza in a tournament in Davao where the latter tormented them. Nonoy, prior to his debut with UST, was seen in the Palarong Pambansa where he was recruited as well.

For all the inroads his team has made, Ayo, who is in his second year with the España-based squad, said: “We’re still a work in progress. Our early success is good but other teams haven’t really scouted us. We will see how we do here sa Filoil.”

Basketball fans will get an even bigger look at this UST team when they play La Salle at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.