The 19-year-old Zain Mahmood is a 6-foot-7 big man out of Maranatha High School in California, who showed his wares for the national youth team in the 2022 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship in Qatar.
Gilas Pilipinas Youth big man Zain Mahmood has formalized his entry to University of Santo Tomas.
Growling Tigers coach Pido Jarencio welcomed the Fil-Canadian slotman to España as they caught a big fish ahead of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball wars.
“Hindi lang malaki si Mahmood, skilled din siya kaya napakalaking addition niya para sa program natin,” said the outspoken mentor as he, together with Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP, and team manager Eric Ang, met their new recruit on Wednesday.
“Alam naman natin na ‘yung malalaki ang kulang sa atin last season, so maganda ang nakikita nating future para sa batang ito,” coach Pido added.
The 19-year-old Mahmood is a 6-foot-7 big man out of Maranatha High School in California, who showed his wares for the national youth team in the 2022 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship in Qatar where he netted 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 24 minutes of action.
He also strut his stuff for Fil-Nation Select in the 2023 Smart-NBTC National Finals last year where he got 6.8 points and 3.6 boards in 14 minutes of play.
Also adding ceiling to UST is unheralded big man Brix Verzosa.
Verzosa, also 19-years-old, is a 6-foot-10 center who garnered 3.1 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Tiger Cubs in the last UAAP Season 86 boys basketball tournament.
“Ito ang mga kailangan ng programa natin dahil alam niyo naman gaano tayo kahirap sa loob last season. Umaasa tayong made-develop pa natin itong mga malalaking batang ito,” said Jarencio.
The two young studs join the Growling Tigers’ frontline which includes Christian Manaytay, Migs Pangilinan, Echo Laure, and Gelo Crisostomo.
It also adds to the excitement in UST with transferees Forthsky Padrigao, Kyle Paranada, Isaac Danting, Leland Estacio, and Geremy Robinson about to make their debuts this season and joining holdovers led by Nic Cabanero.