UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio expects star Aljon Mariano to be a hundred percent soon after an injury scare prior to the start of the UAAP season.
The Tigers got a big scare prior to the start of their campaign when Mariano badly twisted the same right ankle he fractured two years ago that forced him to sit out the entire UAAP season.
But Jarencio received a piece of good news when it was determined following an MRI test that he sustained no more than a sprain.
“Umikot ‘yung paa niya. Akala namin baka katulad nung dati na napilayan siya,” said Jarencio of his streak shooting guard.
“Buti naman, walang tama ‘yung buto. May mga ligaments na medyo nadali kaya pasundot-sundot lang siya maglaro. Pero palaban talaga ‘yung bata, ‘yung isip niya gusto niya maglaro.”
Still, the versatile guard is still not fully fit.
Mariano only played 17 minutes in the Tigers' opening win against La Salle, but was a factor for the team late when he scored three of his five points in overtime to help UST pull off a 63-58 win over the Archers on Saturday.
Jarencio believes Mariano will be in better shape when the Tigers go up against the Adamson Falcons on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Hindi siya 100 percent. Baka sa Sabado, okay na siya,” said Jarencio.
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