By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers just acquired the services of six-foot-three swingman Filipino-Australian Elijah Barret.
Still in a rebuilding stage after a roster overhaul, the UST coaching staff headed by Jino Manansala are still searching for the right pieces to fill the team.
With Negrense Mark Nonoy, Rhenz Abando, and Brent Paraiso, three of their vital members during their championship-qualifying squad now with different schools, a lot of work is needed to be done to fill their shoes.
Barret, who played for Old School Basketball in Australia and helped them to a Western Sydney Basketball Association and Basketball NSW (New South Wales) Youth League championship, is ready to embrace his role with the team.
“UST was an easy choice because we trust Coach Ji Manansala and also both my husband and I went to UST,” said Elijah’s mother Kaz.
Kaz also shared that there were two other universities that tried to recruit Elijah but the programs both wanted him to repeat his Grade 12 studies.
With another addition of a tall wingman, UST just built one of the tallest frontcourts in the UAAP together with their latest addition, the six-foot-five Dave Magharing from the Electron College Novaliches.
“Gagawin ko po lahat ng makakaya ko para po sa team pag sisikapan at paghihirapan ko po ng mabuti ang pag-eensayo po,” said Magharing.
