Manaytay, Nic Cabañero relish successful time with UST

Christian Manaytay and Nic Cabañero headed to the UST Growling Tigers bench throughout a UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball sport. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web

MANILA, Philippines—Christian Manaytay and Nic Cabañero have been with the College of Santo Tomas by way of a few of the worst occasions in current historical past.

The guard-big duo donned the Growling Tigers jersey throughout the squad’s abysmal previous seasons when wins had been scarce and much aside.

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Now, within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball match, UST is off to its finest begin in fairly some time with a 3-1 card.

And shock, shock… Cabañero and Manaytay are nonetheless within the Tigers’ den.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

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“It’s overwhelming,” mentioned an exhausted Manaytay after serving to UST squeak previous Nationwide College, 67-64, at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

“I’m comfortable as a result of, coming from earlier years, we stored on dropping and it felt like we had been dropping our successful tradition. I do know we’ll go someplace this season.”

Manaytay performed true to his position—a veteran massive—with 14 factors, 5 rebounds plus three assists to assist UST acquire its winningest begin since Season 82.

Season 82 was fairly overseas to Manaytay and Cabañero. In any case, it was throughout the time of former coach Aldin Ayo and stars Rhenz Abando, Mark Nonoy, CJ Cansino and Soulemane Chabi-Yo, to call a couple of.

READ: UAAP: UST loss to Adamson a ‘wake-up name,’ says Nic Cabañero

A number of mishaps, controversies and revamps later, UST ushered in a brand new age–this time with rookies Cabañero and Manaytay.

However what was predicted as a brand new begin fizzled into nothing as UST entered a darkish period with the sudden departure of its stars and  Manaytay and Cabañero had been caught smack-dab in the course of all of it.

“Earlier than, I even felt like I didn’t wish to play anymore,” bared Manaytay, nonetheless attempting to catch his breath from an intense affair with the Bulldogs.

“We stored on dropping however now, I imagine now we have an opportunity.”

By means of ‘ECQ’ and again

Nic Cabañero helps UST Growling Tigers previous NU Bulldogs within the within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball match. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web

“So far as I bear in mind, manner again after Season 84, we considered staying or leaving. I didn’t inform him instantly, however I assumed we should always keep as a result of we’ll be main this workforce,” revealed Cabañero following one other candy night time from the sphere in NU’s win over UST.

From UAAP Seasons 84 to 86, the as soon as mighty Tigers simply tallied six measly wins.

However after three seasons filled with heartbreak, the workforce received fairly the turnaround–not simply with the arrival of Pido Jarencio, but additionally with help of the San Miguel company and its a number of recruits, most notably former Ateneo standout Forthsky Padrigao.

READ: UAAP: UST Tigers–now not sporting buzz cuts–are buzzing

“We’re nearing the top of our enjoying years so it’s an enormous factor for us to develop with this school program [with SMC]. It’s going to assist us develop into the skilled degree,” mentioned Cabañero, who dropped 10 factors and 5 rebounds on Saturday’s particular.

Manaytay and Cabañero’s bond goes deeper than UST’s consecutive dropping seasons.

Throughout the bubble, when UST slowly crumbled as a result of “Sorsogon bubble” fiasco, the duo served their residency in Manila throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ: New UST star Forthsky Padrigao is some extent—not factors—guard

So from dropping video games to being caught because of a pandemic, Manaytay and Cabañero have been by way of hell and again.

“I’ve been with Christian even throughout the ECQ (Enhanced group quarantine) right here in Manila and our bond collectively is simply there,” mentioned Cabañero. “We quarrel generally however deep inside, I do know Christian is there for me all the time, identical as me who’s all the time there for him.”