University of Santo Tomas would have to crawl into the remainder of its disappointing campaign in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament with an all-Filipino lineup.
Foreign student-athlete Adama Faye has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a nagging back injury and has already flown back to Senegal to undergo recovery according to UST’s official student publication, The Varsitarian, on Thursday night.
The development came almost two weeks after the Tigers mentioned that it would make an official announcement on the status of the 6-foot-9 Senegalese big man.
Faye, who averaged 11.3 points and 12.2 rebounds last season, only suited up for UST twice with limited minutes inside the court hobbled by his injury.
His presence was barely felt after logging a total of 11 minutes in games against University of the East and De La Salle University.
Faye played for eight and a half minutes with just one point and three rebounds in UST’ 70-80 season-opening loss to the Red Warriors. He was then scoreless in three minutes of action in the Tigers’ 71-91 beating at the hands of the Green Archers.
Despite the loss that added more woes to UST’s forgettable campaign, assistant coach Japs Cuan keeps strong faith that the locals would be able to pull them through another challenging season.
“I mean, whoever is practicing with us, whoever is available, we trust them. So, regardless if he’s (Faye) gonna be there or not, I mean, we have faith in our players,” Cuan, deputy of returning head coach Pido Jarencio, said.
Just like what they have been doing the whole season, the Tigers would rely on Nic Cabanero, Migs Pangilinan, Christian Manaytay and Ivanne Calum in their search for another win to improve the cellar-dwellers’ current 1-8 win-loss record.
Thirdy Crisostomo and Encho Laure would have to double their effort inside the painted area to help the Tigers avoid a repeat of their 1-13 finish in Season 85.
UST is on the brink of bowing out of the Final Four contention following a two-game slide to start the second round.
The Tigers are on a two-game slide to start the second round with five games left in the elims.
UST takes on Adamson University today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
