Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 10) — University of Santo Tomas (UST) is getting a huge boost in the UAAP.
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) sports director Alfrancis Chua formally announced their commitment to UST during the Growling Tigers’ team practice on Monday.
CNN Philippines correspondent Pauline Verzosa contributed to this report.
Chua will serve in UST as Special Assistant to the Rector for Sports, a similar role he held at the university’s Dominican sister school Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which bagged the last three NCAA men’s basketball crowns.
SMC is one of the country’s top diversified conglomerates.
“They talked to me a couple of months ago but again this is not gonna happen if my boss, Ramon Ang, will not allow me to support UST,” Chua said.
Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio alongside University Rector Fr. Richard Ang O.P. were also in attendance.
“UP, Ateneo, La Salle, they’re all strong teams. For us, we will be out there to shock. What I’m sure is we will be competitive in all games,” Chua said.
UST is tied with the University of the East at having the second most number of UAAP men’s basketball titles at 18, behind Far Eastern University’s 20.
The Growling Tigers last won the crown in 2006.
It’s a homecoming for Chua who played for the then-UST Glowing Goldies in the late 1980s.
UST is looking to improve its dismal last place finish in UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball.
UAAP Season 86 is slated to begin in September.
