UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas is injecting foreign flavor to its buildup ahead of UAAP Season 86 as it leaves for Korea early Sunday morning.
Coach Pido Jarencio and the rest of the Growling Tigers are set for an 11-day sojourn in The Land of the Morning Calm.
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There, the UST Tigers will play six tuneup games against KBL teams led by Changwon LG Sakers, as well as three of Korea's top universities while also partaking in a skills training camp.
"Unti-unti na naming nabubuo yung team, pero mahalaga pa rin sa amin na masubukan yung tatag ng mga batang ito. Nakita namin kung paano sila mag-perform sa practice, pero iba pa rin yung sa game kaya magandang challenge ito para sa amin na ipakita nila kung gaano sila ka-palaban," said Jarencio.
Nic Cabanero, Adama Faye, and Paul Manalang spearhead the delegation as the Espana crew test their mettle against their Korean counterparts.
Rookies SJ Moore and Mark Llemit will also get their feet wet together with Fil-Ams Vince Ventulan and John Abate as they try to make early impressions for the black-and-gold side.
Completing the 16-man roster for this trip are holdovers Ivan Lazarte, Christian Manaytay, Miguel Pangilinan, Jonathan Gesalem, Mark Angelo Crisostomo, Bevir Ivanne Calum, and second-generation players Kenji Duremdes, Kylle Magdangal, and Echo Laure.
Jarencio, together with team consultant Bonnie Tan and team managers Eric Ang and Waiyip Chong, lead the 34-man delegation which will return home on Aug. 9.
UST is currently enjoying a resurgence in its men's basketball program thanks to the full support of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) through Petron, with SMC sports director and newly appointed UST Special Assistant to the Rector for Sports Alfrancis Chua spearheading the partnership as the Growling Tigers gun for a better showing ahead of the UAAP men's basketball wars come September.
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