Nigerian Rich Managor is USPF’s newest addition to its lineup. (CONTRIBUTED)
AFTER blowing hot and cold for the better part of the last decade, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers can finally look ahead with both hope and optimism with the arrival of Nigerian big man Rich Managor.
After faring well during the early years of the Cesafi, the Panthers have hit a snag and have consistently missed the semifinal round. However, the arrival of the versatile and quick 6-foot-8 forward has given the Panthers hope as they now have a legitimate anchor on both ends of the floor inside the shaded lane.
The early returns have been promising so far with USPF finishing second in the Mayor Nice Apura Inter-Collegiate Invitational in Carcar—a tournament which saw the Panthers beat both the reigning Cesafi champions University of the Visayas (UV) and runners-up University of San Carlos (USC), and fourth in the Lapu-Lapu City Fiesta Basketball League.
USPF head coach Albert Alocillo acknowledged that the 20-year-old Managor has been God-sent to them, though incorporating him into the week has been a laborious two-week process so far.
“He’s fast, he’s big and he can do a lot of things for us. But it’s been a process so far. But so long as we keep on growing together, we’ll be alright,” said Alocillo.
Though the new season of the Cesafi tournament remains a long way off, Alocillo said that the goal of making it to the final four has never been more within reach, with the presence of Managor, along with the continued improvement of his core led by talented guard Lyndon Colina and sweet-shooting big men Kenneth Cada and Roy Quiachon.
Team manager and the school’s representative to the Board, Brian James Jereza, admitted that having a player the size of Managor, vastly improves his team’s outlook moving forward.
“Rich is a very good addition to the team. We are such a small team. A big man like him can really help us.”
For Managor, the move to Cebu represents a fresh start for him after initially going to La Consolacion University in Malolos, Bulacan. He said that he made the switch in search of better basketball pastures.
“I’m just going to try and bring the Panthers to the highest level possible,” vowed Managor, who admits that the partnership remains a work-in-progress.