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Mapua, UST scout future collegiate cagers in Palarong Pambansa

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Karl Cedrick Basco, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/04/25/atoy-co-2017-042517.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Mapua head coach Atoy Co talks to media at this year&#x27;s Palarong Pambansa. <em>Karl Cedrick Basco, ABS-CBN News</em><cite> </cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>ANTIQUE – The war in secondary boys’ basketball in Palarong Pambansa 2017 has begun -- and UAAP and NCAA coaches will be closely monitoring the action.</p><p>Mapua Institute of Technology head coach and PBA legend Atoy Co joined the huge crowd on Monday to watch the start of the basketball games at the Binirayan Sports Complex to scout new prospects for the Cardinals in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).</p><p>Co turned heads during the games when he arrived at the sports complex to see some notable secondary players who might help his team in the future.</p><p>According to Co, he is looking for athletes who already have the height but is wary that other teams might steal his prospects from him. He even said in jest that he will pirate some basketball players if they have already been approached by other schools.</p><p>“Naniniwala pa rin ako na height is might in basketball,” Co said. “Big man pa rin ang kailangan ko. Baka rin makatsamba rito sa Palaro. Nagbabaka-sakali lang.”</p><ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read:">	<li><strong>Read: </strong> <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/04/21/former-gilas-cadet-jonas-tibayan-takes-talents-nu-24989">Former Gilas cadet Jonas Tibayan takes talents to NU </a></li></ul><p>Minutes after Co arrived, University of Santo Tomas (UST) head coach Boy Sablan was also seen in the venue along with his assistant coaches.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/04/25/boy-sablan-2017-042517.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">UST head coach Boy Sablan talks to media at this year&#x27;s Palarong Pambansa. <cite>Karl Cedrick Basco, ABS-CBN News </cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>According to Sablan, this is his first time to visit Palarong Pambansa but admitted that he had been touring around the country for possible key addition to the Growling Tigers in UAAP.</p><p>“Lahat ng meet pinupuntahan ko. Kailangan ko kasi ito,” Sablan said. “Last year wala akong recruit; ngayon, kailangan ko mag-recruit.”</p><p>The UST Growling Tigers finished UAAP Season 79 campaign with a disappointing record, pushing Sablan to bring more talents in Espana.</p><p>“Maganda naman na ‘yung team ngayon kasi mahaba ‘yung preparation at the same time, mas maganda ‘yung system na nira-run naming,” Sablan added. “Additional lang ito lalo na baka available makapaglaro this year.”</p><p>Sablan also said he is looking for a hardworking player and someone who has the height, especially since his team has numerous point guards.</p><p>“Priority ng lahat ng coaches ‘yung matataas at malalaki. Gusto ko 2 and 3 positions naman madagdag sa team,” Sablan said.</p><p>The chief tactician of UST revealed that he has already talked to a couple of athletes in the Central Luzon team and hoped that they will accept his offer.</p><p>According to Sablan, the only offer he can give to aspiring basketball stars is the prestige and honor of being a student and graduate of UST.</p><p>“Iba ‘yung honor at prestige na nandoon kasa isa sa pinakamagandang school sa Pilipinas,” Sablan said.</p><p>(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>)</p>

<p>The war in secondary boys’ basketball in Palarong Pambansa 2017 has begun -- and UAAP and NCAA coaches will be closely monitoring the action.</p>

The war in secondary boys’ basketball in Palarong Pambansa 2017 has begun -- and UAAP and NCAA coaches will be closely monitoring the action.

Mapua, UST scout future collegiate cagers in Palarong Pambansa

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Mapua, UST scout future collegiate cagers in Palarong Pambansa

Karl Cedrick Basco,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 25, 2017 01:20 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 25, 2017 02:51 PM PHT

Read More:

Palarong Pambansa

UAAP

NCAA

basketball

Atoy Co

Boy Sablan

Mapua Cardinals

UST Growling Tigers

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