MANILA – Negrense guard Mark Nonoy will be among the new faces when the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers kicks off its campaign in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball this week.
The La Carlota, Negros Occidental native guard admitted feeling the pressure ahead of his UAAP collegiate debut but he vowed to do his best to help the Tigers regain its glory days.
“Tingin ko naman ready na ako,” said Nonoy, a former standout of Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix. “Binibigyan ako ni coach ng confidence na kaya ko na magsalpak sa college.”
Added the Negrense rookie: “Excited na ako na makasama ‘yung magagaling at makalaban ko na ‘yung magagaling din. Ready naman ako kung ano’ng ipagawa nila coach.”
Nonoy will be one of the nine newcomers in head coach Aldin Ayo’s roster aside from Soulemane Chabi Yo, Rhenz Abando, Sherwin Concepcion, Vince Cuajao, Brent Paraiso, Albert Bordeos, Miguel Pangilinan, and Ferdinand Asuncion.
Holdovers from last year’s Tigers’ lineup were team captain Crispin John Cansino, Henri Lorenzo Subido, Zachary Huang, Dave Ando, Ira Bataller, Enric Caunan, and Nat Cosejo.
“We have nine new players in the lineup but this will be a fighting team come UAAP,” Ayo told Panay News. “Definitely, we will have a much improved performance as compared to Season 81.”
The Growling Tigers finished at sixth place in the Season 81 with 5-9 win-loss slate after playing for most part of the season without center Steve Akomo and also losing Cansino later in the season due to a knee injury./PN
