MANILA – After winning numerous championships with Hua Siong College of Iloilo’s Red Phoenix, Reynold Tupas and Jann Paolo Villariza are set to bring their partnership to the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs.
The Himamaylan, Negros Occidental native Tupas and Villariza of Iloilo City will suit up for the Tiger Cubs in the UAAP Season 82 juniors basketball later this year after exhausting their eligibility in Iloilo City.
“(Tigers head) coach Aldin (Ayo) noticed them during a pocket tournament in Bingawan, Iloilo last year and have already expressed his interest in getting them,” Red Phoenix head coach Vincent Conlu said.
“I chose to bring them to UST because I know that they will be taken care of there not only in basketball but also on their studies,” he added. “Also their style of plays fits to Ayo’s system.”
Tupas said it was a dream come true for him to be playing in Manila and for a prestigious school like UST and is also willing to improve his game to fit himself to the squad.
“Noon pa man pangarap ko na talagang makapaglaro sa Manila so this is a dream come true for me,” Tupas said. “Pero hindi naman sapat na kinuha ako ng UST. Kailangan ko pa ding mag-improve para magtuloy-tuloy na ako dito hanggang college.”
Just like Tupas, it was also Villariza’s dream to see himself playing in Manila and promised not to waste the opportunity given to him by the Tiger Cubs.
“Masaya dahil dream ko rin na makapaglaro sa Manila kaya habang nasa Iloilo pa ako ay i-wo-work ko pa ‘yung game ko para maging handa ako sa UST dahil I think i-co-convert nila ako to guard,” said Villariza.
Tupas and Villariza were the latest players from Hua Siong who are set to transfer to UST after Mark Nonoy, Jean Beliran and Vince Dolendo, who were playing for the Tiger Cubs in the ongoing UAAP Season 81./PN
