A FAMILIAR face graces the courtside and delivers reports straight from the huddle and dugout of the Growling Tigers.
Season 74 UST courtside reporter Tina Marasigan keeps the job this year, despite efforts from ABS-CBN Sports to hire a current student from the University.
“Marasigan proved to be better than any of the applicants from UST during the audition process. There were no endorsements from anyone connected with UST or even within ABS-CBN,” ABS-CBN Sports wrote in an email to the Varsitarian.
“They (ABS-CBN) asked me to stand by even before they conducted the screening. But I requested them to prioritize the student-applicants,” Marasigan said.
The lone graduate and returnee in the all-woman courtside cast, Marasigan, a 2009 Ford supermodel, said she is honored to represent UST for the second time, especially now that she has already established a “family-like” relationship with the team.
“I’ve been very honest that I’ve already graduated in 2009. I want the students of the Thomasian community to experience what I’ve experienced because it’s really fun and they will learn a lot,” said Marasigan, a Psychology graduate.
Keeping true to her “advocacy” of keeping UAAP courtside reporting “exclusively for students,” Marasigan plans to personally train applicants for next season.
“I’m planning to spearhead screening procedures and train possible applicants. Then, I will pass their resume [to ABS-CBN Sports] myself. But I have yet to coordinate with the Student Organizations Coordinating Council,” she said.
While the Tigers beefed up their roster with veterans coming back into the fold to strengthen their championship bid, Marasigan said she would work to take her performance to the next level.
“I’ll be transparent, I’ll be very clear, and lalagyan ko ng puso ‘yung report ko,” she said.
