BOY Sablan on Tuesday was introduced to the players of University of Santo Tomas as the new head coach, even as a familiar face from the glory days of the Growling Tigers in the 1990s joined his staff.
UST athletic director Fr. Ermito de Sagun presented Sablan to the players on Tuesday. The former UST player will formally assume the head coaching ranks the following day, Wednesday, along with his assistants.
A person close to be team but declined to be identified revealed former UST guard Patrick Fran will also be part of Sablan’s staff. Fran was a member of the 1993 UST squad that swept the UAAP men’s basketball tournament to begin the Tigers’ string of four straight titles.
Fran is currently an assistant coach of Meralco in the PBA.
Sablan, who takes over from Bong Dela Cruz, is looking to bring the squad once again to the UAAP finals after bowing to Far Eastern University in the Season 78 title series.
It won’t easy though as UST will no longer have Kevin Ferrer, Ed Daquioag, and Karim Abdul in the lineup after they have already exhausted their college eligibility.
A key holdover, Louie Vigil, has also become ineligible after the UAAP board decided last week to lower the age limit for all athletes from 25 to 24.
[See Vigil left ineligible after sudden UAAP decision to lower age limit]
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