By J. Terrado - Manila Bulletin - July 4, 2008
University of Santo Tomas head coach Pido Jarencio is not worried about which team will come out as a threat to their hopes of a second title in three years. He’s more concerned how his players will cope up with their respective injuries.
"Hanggang ngayon ‘di pa kami makumpleto sa praktis," Jarencio said. "Ang dami kong players na injured sa ngayon, kahit wala na silang commitments sa PBL di pa rin kami makumpleto."
The Growling Tigers has been dealt with injuries to key players such as sophomore sniper Khasim Mirza and PBL standouts Dylan Ababou and Jervy Cruz.
Ababou, who won another title as a member of the Harbour Centre, was sidelined for the remainder of the last Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup with an arm injury while the biggest blow came from Cruz, the reigning UAAP men’s basketball MVP.
Cruz suffered a freak accident during a PBL semifinal game, when as a member of Hapee Toothpaste he slipped on a wet surface during halftime warm-ups that resulted to a left hamstring injury.
While the 6-foot-4 big man played limited minutes during one game of the finals last May, Jarencio doesn’t expect him to play in full force come their opening game against University of the East.
"Tingin ko hindi pa siya ready sa opening day," said Jarencio, whose team meets heavily-favored University of the East in Saturday’s curtain-raiser at 2 p.m. "At least 70 percent na siguro siya sa ngayon."
If healthy, Cruz and Ababou are hard to stop, what with their experience and talents.
Allen Maliksi is also doubtful if he can play in their opening game.
Despite being invited to participate in the Nike Summer League and the Fil-Oil Flying V Invitational tournaments, UST shunned both tournaments. The Tigers instead played some scrimmage games against NCAA teams and other schools such as STI, while spending some time in the provinces such as Pampanga, La Union, and Legaspi City, Albay to train and play against local teams.
Although walking wounded, the rest of the UAAP coaches have put UST as one of the top favorites to win it all, having their key players from their title-winning squad from two seasons ago on the squad. Jarencio dismissed such notion.
"Eight veterans kami at eight rookies at nawala pa sa amin si Anthony Espiritu, Jun Cortez, at si June Dizon," he commented.
Filling up for those losses are former De La Salle Zobel guard Jeric Fortuna and Jackson Wong, who Jarencio, a former UST Golden Glowie, believes will be the team’s surprise package. He will give starter Japs Cuan a much-needed help in running the plays for the team.
Jarencio hopes the Tigers would be fully recovered by the middle portion of the tournament in order to contend against the top teams such as UE, Far Eastern University, Ateneo de Manila, and defending champion De La Salle.
"Kapag nabuo na kami sana maganda ang mapakita namin," said Jarencio. "Basta sa court na lang namin papakita kung ano ang itatakbo team."
And he gave reminder: "Tandaan ninyo, maraming surprise ang team na ito."
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