After months of negotiation, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has officially thrown its support behind the UST Growling Tigers, a source from the UST brass told the Varsitarian on Monday.
SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua met with UST athletics director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. and members of the revamped Tigers coaching staff, led by Pido Jarencio, on Monday evening to make oral commitment, the source said.
Chua relayed SMC's commitment during a meeting with UST-IPEA Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. and members of the revamped Tigers coaching staff on Monday night. pic.twitter.com/5AOl0IE7by
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) February 13, 2023
With SMC as a backer, UST will enjoy stronger financial support to reinforce and make competitive its player recruitment and development efforts.
Chua relayed SMC's commitment during a meeting with UST-IPEA Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. and members of the revamped Tigers coaching staff on Monday night. pic.twitter.com/5AOl0IE7by
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) February 13, 2023
Earlier on Monday, UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. welcomed Jarencio’s coaching staff, Tigers managers Waiyip Chong and Eric Ang, and team consultant Bonnie Tan to the school with a luncheon hosted by the Dominican fathers of UST.
LOOK: The Dominican fathers of UST welcome Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio back to UST with a luncheon at the Ecclesiastical Faculties Father’s Residence Building on Monday, Feb. 13. Members of the new Tigers management team and Jarencio's coaching staff were also present. pic.twitter.com/gjhqD5CqJd
— Varsitarian Sports (@VSportsUST) February 13, 2023
After the luncheon, Jarencio signed his three-year contract to return to coaching the Tigers to officially replace Bal David, who led the Tigers to a 1-13 record in Season 85.
Chua was also given a special title: “Special Assistant to the Rector for Basketball.”
When SMC was still backing the men’s basketball program of UST’s sister school Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Chua was assistant to the rector for sports development.
Chua, a UST alumnus and former Glowing Goldie, had been floating the idea of SMC transferring its support from Letran to another school after the Letran Knights completed a three-peat in the NCAA.
SMC had long been interested in backing UST but had to wait until the SMC-Letran ended in the middle of 2023. It took an extra push from Jarencio and new UST managers Chong and Ang to finally convince SMC to make the commitment, a source said.
Ang earlier told the Varsitarian the new Tigers management was already in the process of recruiting players.
“We’ll try our best na kumuha ng magagaling sa high school na ready to play na, kasi kailangan natin lagyan ang team ng ready-to-play players. Tumitingin tayo sa UST high school, nanonood tayo ng games ng UAAP and NCAA juniors, plus nagre-recruit tayo abroad. Aggressive ang recruitment,” the new UST team manager said.
The Tigers recently secured the commitments of Franz Diaz from CEU and James Una from San Sebastian.
