Cuajao with UST coach Aldin Ayo |
DAVAO CITY---Former Holy Child College of Davao high school basketball star Vince Petdeo Cuajao has signified intention to remain as a member of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers college basketball team despite the recent controversy hounding the team.
Jax Chua of Phenom Sports Management, who handles the basketball career of Cuajao said the Mindanaon player has no reason to leave since he is happy with the team and with coach Aldin Ayo.
The Growling Tigers made the sports headlines recently with its supposed quarantine protocol violation with its “Sorsogon bubble”.
Before the UST controversy, the 6’1” guard from Midsayap, North Cotabato is becoming one of the main scoring options of the Tigers in their offseason tournaments.
Cuajao, who is a sophomore this year carried the Tigers to a 115-62 win against the TIP Engineers in the ongoing PBA D-League 2020 Aspirants Cup.
The athletic guard coming from the same hometown as Blackwater Elite star Mac Belo scored 24 points in the game including seven three-pointers to help the Tigers demolished the Engineers in their game.
Before his scoring outburst in the PBA D-League, Cuajao, 19 also played solid for the Tigers in their recent Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) participation.
In the Tigers PCCL game against defending champion Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), Cuajao scored 14 points in a losing cause of his team 72-81.
With his solid performance for the Tigers in the offseason, Cuajao is expected to play a significant role for his team in the 82nd UAAP basketball season this year.
In his rookie year last year, Cuajao played solid as a role-player off the bench and help his team finished second behind champion team ADMU.
Cuajao, became one of the most sought-after basketball prospects in Mindanao last year after he scored 41 points against Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) in the Davao City finals of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC).
He also played for the home team Davao Region, which saw a quarterfinal finish in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)