MANILA – Brent Paraiso admitted it was difficult to leave the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers but had to do so for the sake of his caging career.
In an interview with The Varsitarian, Paraiso said the logical thing to do was to leave UST and try his luck in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools since there is no assurance that the Growling Tigers will not be suspended by the school or the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) board for its infamous “Sorsogon Bubble”.
Pag nag-stay ako [tapos] na-suspend ang UST, sayang ang last playing year ko. Hindi ako magda-drop kung sigurado ako na hindi masu-suspend ang school,” he explained, adding that he could still play as much as two years if he transfers to the NCAA.
“Hindi basta-basta ‘yung pag-iwan ko sa UST. Need ko [rin] isipin ‘yung career ko,” stressed the six-foot-two swingman. “I had to say goodbye although it was hard.”
Paraiso was the second player to leave the UST men’s basketball squad after Crispin John Cansino, who transferred to the University of the Philippines.
There were also rumors that Ira Bataller and Rhenz Abando are bidding farewell to UST soon./PN
