MANILA – Ilonggo guard Franz Diaz is set to relocate to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers after spending the early years of his collegiate career with the Centro Escolar University Scorpions.
According to Diaz, he was grateful to be personally recruited by Growling Tigers head coach Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio as this was a realization of his dream to play in the UAAP men’s basketball.
“I am very much thankful to coach Pido for giving me this opportunity to join UST Tigers,” Diaz said in an interview with Dugout Philippines on Monday. “Hopefully, I can help the team in the upcoming UAAP season.”
Despite being a transferee, the Iloilo City native does not need to serve residency as he has already graduated as a college player at CEU and will play for UST as a masteral student.
“I can still play two full years for UST since I don’t need to serve residency as I will be transferring as a graduate student from CEU,” said Diaz, who attended his first practice with UST on Monday afternoon.
Diaz was a former standout of Ateneo de Iloilo before being recruited to continue his high school career with Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and De La Salle Santiago-Zobel.
Diaz was part of the CEU Scorpions team under then head coach Derrick Pumaren that finished runner up to Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the 2019 PBA D-League Finals.
The Ilonggo guard was also part of the CEU team that swept the recent Universities and Colleges Basketball League tournament under resigned head coach Chico Manabat earlier this month.
“He was one of the best players that I handled so I am glad that he is making waves in Manila,” Ateneo de Iloilo head coach Jophil Cercado told Dugout Philippines. “It was his dream to play in UAAP so I am thankful that UST noticed his talents.”
The 5-foot-9 Diaz will become the second Western Visayas-based player in the current Growling Tigers roster aside from Christian Manaytay who is a native of Roxas City, Capiz.
The Growling Tigers were preparing for a huge bounce back season in the UAAP Season 86 later this year after a forgetful 1-13 campaign under resigned head coach Bal David last year./PN
