MANILA – Dave Bagatnan, a former standout of Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix basketball team, is soon roaring with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers for college.
The Puerto Princesa, Palawan native formalized his entry with the España-based dribblers after attending three tryouts with newly-hired Growling Tigers head coach Bal David last week.
“I am happy to be here at UST and I am looking forward to helping the team in the upcoming UAAP Season,” Bagatnan told Panay News on Tuesday. “My hardwork and sacrifices to reach here has paid off.”
Bagatnan, who was trained under Bingbong Basketball Center (BBC) before, had his best years as a high school basketball player with Hua Siong, where he represented Western Visayas in Palarong Pambansa and National PRISAA.
He was then recruited to join the UST Tiger Cubs for senior high school but was unable to play for the school with the cancellation of UAAP competitions due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
However, wearing the yellow and gold colors of the UST seemed to be part of Bagatnan’s destiny as he earned a tryout invite with the Growling Tigers and then got the nod of David.
“He was impressive during his tryout that he was shortlisted by coach Bal from among the thousands of applicants,” said UST IPEA head Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP. “Dave is also not new to the Thomasian community as he studied his senior high school here.”
Vincent Conlu, who was Bagatnan’s coach at Hua Siong and trainer at BBC, said he was proud of the achievement of his former player as he believes that Bagatnan will blossom at UST.
“I am not surprised that he was accepted at UST because he is one of the best players I have handled at Hua Siong,” Conlu said. “He is a very hardworking and very coachable player.”
“I am looking forward to seeing him blossom under coach Bal’s guidance. I am certain that he can still bring the best out of Dave. I am glad to be able to contribute another player to UST,” he added./PN
