REKINDLING its collegiate basketball supremacy is at the forefront of University of Sto. Tomas' vision in forging new partnerships with Cocolife and Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights (Dumper) Partylist ahead of UAAP Season 86.
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The two sponsors now join San Miguel Corporation as the Tigers' new backers, under the leadership of SMC sports director and newly appointed Special Assistant to the Rector for Sports Alfrancis Chua.
In a memorandum of agreement signing event at the Cocolife head office in Makati on Tuesday, representatives from all three parties shared goal of supporting UST's juniors and seniors basketball programs in the foreseeable future.
UST athletics director Rev. Fr. Rodel V. Cansancio, O.P. expressed his gratitude for the 'trust and confidence' that ultimately paved the way for the university's new partnerships to come into fruition, and remained open to welcoming more partners soon.
Cansancio said their new partners will help sustain the university's longstanding legacy of athletic success.
"Hindi sa pagmamayabang pero even without the support of these institutions, napapakita naman ng UST na kaya niya [mag-succeed]. UST has always emerged as the general champions of the UAAP and this shows the kind and quality of sports programs we have," the UST athletics director said.
"Let's admit na basketball is the flagship sport ng UAAP. We're running behind [in basketball] but we're catching up. Next to FEU, UST has the most championships in men's basketball [then] La Salle, Ateneo, NU, lately lang naman sila nag-emerge. Kaya, we go into these partnerships to help us in our basketball program," he added.
With new partners, added reinforcements, and an ongoing Korea training camp, there is growing confidence that UST's basketball programs are taking progressive steps forward in its quest to relive its glory days atop the summit of college basketball.
The UAAP Season 86 seniors basketball tournament is set to commence in the final quarter of 2023, with the juniors tilt set to follow suit in early 2024.
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