University of Santo Tomas continues its buildup as it landed high school standouts Jun Melecio and Mark Llemit for Season 86 University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio made the confirmation, saying that the arrival of Melecio and Llemit tightened the competition in their guard rotation.
“These two guards are exciting additions for us. Our guard rotation will be deeper and the competition for the roster will be intense,” said Jarencio, who is making a return as Growling Tigers tactician.
Llemit was part of the UST squad that made it to the Final Four of the UAAP Season 85 juniors basketball tournament last March in which he averaged 16.27 points, 8.27 rebounds, 2.73 assists, and 2.53 steals in 28 minutes.
He was also a key contributor in the Tiger Cubs’ semifinal run in Division 1 of the National Basketball Training Center.
The 6-foot-3 winger from Laak, Davao de Oro said he wanted to prove he belongs in UST.
“I’m excited to play here because this is where I started and I want to go to the next level with UST,” Llemit said.
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Melecio, the younger brother of Phoenix guard Aljun Melecio, vows to give his best for his new team.
“The way I loved La Salle is the same way I’m feeling here in UST. That’s why I’m motivated to give my best to help UST and win as many games as possible,” said Melecio, who averaged 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, two assists, and a steal for the Junior Green Archers in Season 85.
Llemit and Melecio join SJ Moore from Arellano, Filipino-Canadian shooter Gabriel Obusan, and Season 87 recruits Rhayyan Amsali and James Una in the growing roster for the Growling Tigers as they aim to forget their horrendous 1-13 campaign last year that saw them dead last in the eight-team tournament.