MANILA, Philippines – UST Tiger Cubs player Alfred Loreto has just won a bigger fight outside the basketball court.
Loreto had a successful brain tumor removal surgery on Sunday, January 19, as his team battled the NU Bullpups in a losing effort, 71-60, in the opener of the UAAP Season 87 high school boys’ basketball tournament at the FilOIl EcoOil Centre.
Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Inigo confirmed the successful operation through the Varsitarian, following their loss to last year’s runner-up NU led by reigning MVP Collins Akowe.
Loreto, the 17-year-old big man, was admitted to the hospital earlier this week after a series of vomiting and severe headaches, the team had said in a statement.
He was diagnosed with pituitary macroadenoma, a tumor that affects the pituitary gland.
The 6-foot-6 player averaged 1.3 points and 1.7 rebounds last year but showed promise in various offseason tournaments.
Loreto is set for recovery and rehabilitation in a bid to return to basketball form in the foreseeable future.
Without Loreto in the frontcourt, the Tiger Cubs missed an extra body against the tournament’s best bigs, including NU’s Akowe, who dominated in his first outing in Season 87.
Akowe, who was the first-ever foreign student-athlete to win an MVP award in juniors basketball, recorded 21 points and 26 rebounds in just under 30 minutes of play, dominating the interior for the Bullpups as they aim for this year’s title after losing to eventual champion Adamson.
Meanwhile, debuting UST foreign student-athlete Racine Kane struggled to find his offensive groove with just 8 points, but still tallied 10 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 blocks.
Charles Bucsit led the Tiger Cubs with 15 points, on top of Charles Esteban’s 13 markers.
FEU stuns champion Adamson, La Salle averts UP near-upset
Earlier, the FEU Baby Tamaraws dealt the defending champions Adamson their first loss in their title defense in a stunner, 75-71.
Gilas Youth player Cabs Cabonillas posted 25 points and 17 rebounds, while Mark Burgos added 19 points and 10 boards to lead the Tamaraws to a season-opening win.
Coming off a title in the UAAP junior high school basketball last month, the UE Junior Red Warriors also opened the tournament on a high note, beating the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 88-80.
Capping the opening day, the La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers survived the UPIS Junior Fighting Maroons’ upset bid in overtime, 79-77.
Bonn Daja put up 21 points and 15 rebounds while highly touted prospect Kieffer Alas contributed 16 markers and 13 boards in the Junior Archers’ gutsy win. – Rappler.com