UST bolsters frontcourt with addition of Zain Mahmood, Brix Verzosa

Filipino-Canadian bruiser Mahmood played for Maranatha High School in California and showed promise during his time with the Gilas Pilipinas youth team in the 2022 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship in Qatar, where he posted averages 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 24 minutes of action.

The 19-year-old 6-foot-7 big man also led Fil-Nation Select in the 2023 Smart-NBTC National Finals after collecting 6.8 points and 3.6 boards in 14 minutes of play.

The 6-foot-10 Verzosa, meanwhile, suited up for the Tiger Cubs in the previous UAAP Season 86 boys basketball tournament and collected  3.1 points and 4.6 rebounds.

UST head coach Pido Jarencio beamed with excitement as they welcomed the two big men, highlighting the fact that they have to improve their inside presence come next season.

“Ito ang mga kailangan ng programa natin dahil alam n’yo naman gaano tayo kahirap sa loob last season. Umaasa tayong made-develop pa natin itong mga malalaking batang ito,” said Jarencio.

(These are what we need for our program because you know how hard it was for us inside the paint last season. We hope we can develop these young big men.)

The two young studs join the Growling Tigers’ frontline which includes Christian Manaytay, Migs Pangilinan, Echo Laure, and Gelo Crisostomo.