AFTER transferring between several schools over the past year, former Gilas Pilipinas Youth player Mur Alao has committed to the UST Growling Tigers, becoming the team’s first recruit since the UAAP updated its residency rules.
Alao enrolled at UST in the last week of September and will have three years of eligibility left after sitting out his residency in Season 87. He will be available for the Growling Tigers in Season 88.
According to the newly revised UAAP rules, Alao will lose two eligibility years as he transferred out of a UAAP member school to join another.
In the past year, Alao had also transferred to the UE Red Warriors and the FEU Tamaraws, but both commitments fell through.
Alao initially enrolled with FEU in the first week of September but could not attend classes due to inclement weather, which eventually led him to commit to the Tigers.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Alao said UST head coach Pido Jarencio showed interest in recruiting him during a chance meeting with his family. Jarencio outlined potential opportunities with UST, which ultimately convinced Alao to join.
It also helped that Alao’s father, Ray, had been teammates with Jarencio in Macao years ago.
“Si dad and si coach Pido, friends ‘yon, and talagang coincidence kasi ‘yong mom ko nagkita sila last month,” Alao told the Varsitarian. “Dati pa raw ako gusto ni coach Pido. After mag-meet kami ng family ko, we decided na UST na talaga.”
“Nakita namin na better and appreciated ako dito. About two or three days lang nangyari lahat last month, then we finally chose UST,” he added.
Alao will be playing with familiar faces at UST, including former San Beda Red Cubs teammate Nic Cabañero and former Gilas Youth teammate Forthsky Padrigao. He also played with Geremy Robinson at DLSU, but neither made the Season 85 roster.
“Malaking tulong na kilala ko na rin ‘yong ibang players dito,” Alao said. “Sila, along with the coaches, talagang pinaparamdam sa akin na I have something to look forward to dito.”
Alao joins the Tigers’ latest batch of recruits, which includes former CSB Blazer Michael Mara.
“Ang mentality ko right now is to always be ready, so I don’t need to get ready once nandiyan na ‘yong opportunities ko,” he said. Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon
