BY ABBY TORALBA
THERE’S no need to press the panic button just yet for University of Santo Tomas.
The Growling Tigers have lost their first four games in the 86th UAAP basketball tournament and 17th overall since the last cage wars.
“I don’t think it’s the right time to press the panic button right now because honestly, I still believe in the team, especially our players. I think eventually makakabutas din kami, iyon lang,” UST assistant coach Japs Cuan said after the Tigers dropped a 69-87 loss to National University last Wednesday.
“Hopefully, iyong mga Thomasian community have patience lang on us,” he added.
Cuan said the Espana-based crew is still in a rebuilding phase with its young core.
“I think the reason probably prior to the season kasi we have the rotation na we’re used to, and I think just this, medyo mga bata pa din kasi,” Cuan, himself a former UST guard who was a member of the team’s last title win in 2006 under comebacking Tigers coach Pido Jarencio, said.
“Hopefully, sooner they’d be used to their role. We really need them to step up. . . I think we need more from them, and I know they can deliver. So, iyon lang, we’re patient with them kasi bata pa din naman sila,” he said.
UST collides with unbeaten University of the Philippines tomorrow, Saturday, at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“I think we have to find ways to stop them. They’re the number one team right, we have to find ways to stop them. We have a problem with their bigs right now kasi kinakain kami sa loob,” Cuan said center as Adama Faye is expected to sit out anew with a back injury.
“So, hopefully, ma-address namin iyon and trust lang din sa system. Laban naman kami hanggang dulo.”
