UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas coaches and team managers categorically debunked allegations surrounding Mo Tounkara's supposed friction with the team.
"Wala yun," quipped coach Pido Jarencio, adding that these rumors should not tarnish the headways achieved by the Growling Tigers this past UAAP Season 87.
READ: Has Mo Tounkara played his last game with UST Tigers?
Tounkara, for his part, also denied these claims, telling The Varsitarian, "Everything they said was not true at all, that’s all I can say about it."
“I did not even talk to any one of my coaches. We have not talked about anything yet."
Tounkara added that such rumors caught him by surprise considering how UST, from coaches to players, actually went on a break immediately following its Final Four exit at the hands of eventual champion the University of the Philippines.
"It just surprised me, those kinds of stuff about something in my life. I don’t even know. I think I have to clarify these with my coaches, the staff, and management," furthered the 6-foot-8 Malian big man.
Tounkara impressed in his first season with the Growling Tigers, averaging 13.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game, but missed out on a Mythical Team selection owing to his one-game suspension.
If he and Jarencio are, indeed, proven correct, the black-and-gold will be bringing back a mostly intact core for next year, with Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao still at the forefront.
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