By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers fortified its coaching staff after tapping the services of former UAAP men’s basketball champion coach Juno Sauler confirmed last January 11, 2024.
Sauler, a former chief tactician of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers who won the 2023 season crown, will work alongside head coach Pido Jarencio when this year’s UAAP men’s hoops tourney kicks off.
According to Jarencio, Sauler will become a valuable addition to the young squad as his winning experience will bring a different dimension to the table.
Aside from his winning season in DLSU, Sauler is also a part of the coaching staff of the Magnolia Hotshots Chicken Timplados.
As an assistant coach to Magnolia, Sauler already won five PBA championships from the 2004 Fiesta Cup to the 2018 Governor’s Cup.
He is also a three-time UAAP Women’s basketball champion as a head coach from 1999-2001, still under the DLSU program.
The past UAAP Season 86 was a disappointment for the Growling Tigers after only finishing with a 2-12 win-loss record while also placing last out of the eight participating universities.
Excitement then began when former UAAP Mythical Team member Forthsky Padrigao announced that he would be transferring to UST from the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles.
Also boosting the Growling Tigers is electrifying guard Kyle Paranada who left the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors.
The dynamic backcourt duo will be forming a formidable big three together with the team’s current main gunner, Nic Cabanero.
Completing UST’s deep coaching pool are Ian Herrera, Juben Ledesma, Jeric Fortuna, Japs Cuan, mentored by team consultant Bonnie Tan.
