By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Ilonggo point guard Franz Diaz is set to boost the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in the upcoming UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
Multiple sources confirmed that Diaz already gathered the necessary documents to complete his transfer from Centro Escolar University (CEU) to UST.
Diaz will be eligible to suit up for the Growling Tigers as a master’s student-athlete after completing his degree at CEU and will have two available playing years in the UAAP.
The 23-year-old pride of MH Del Pilar Jaro, Iloilo recently led the CEU Scorpions to the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) championship after edging Olivarez College in Game two, 92-82.
Diaz was impressive during his final year with the Scorpions and averaged 9.6 points, 4.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest and was also the team’s captain ball.
His arrival with the Growling Tigers is a part of the team’s rebuilding process right after former champion coach Pido Jarencio’s designation as the team’s new chief tactician.
Diaz was a former player of renowned University of San Agustin coach Jophil Cercado when he was still the mentor of Ateneo de Iloilo.
In an exclusive interview with coach Cercado, he shared that he guided Diaz during his elementary and high school years before agreeing to join De La Salle Zobel and Ateneo de Cebu.
Diaz also joined the past season of the JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) and played for the stacked Systemic Farm Chemicals squad.
