Lorenzo Abellar Commits to UST for UAAP Season 89
The UST Growling Tigers have secured the commitment of Filipino-American point guard Lorenzo Abellar for the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament.
UST team manager Eric Ang confirmed the development to this writer. Abellar will play one season for the Growling Tigers as a one-and-done addition to a team aiming to contend for the championship.
The 5-foot-10 guard has already arrived in the Philippines and begun practicing with UST. According to Ang, Abellar has shown that he can contribute on both ends of the floor, giving the Growling Tigers additional depth, experience, playmaking, and perimeter defense.
Abellar took an unconventional route to UST
Raised in the Las Vegas area, he attended Sierra Vista High School before transferring to Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada. He then began his college career at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he redshirted, before playing for Chabot College and the College of Southern Nevada.
His most productive college season came with Southern Nevada in 2023-24. As the team’s starting point guard, Abellar averaged 10.3 points, 4.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds and two steals while playing nearly 31 minutes per game. He led the Coyotes in minutes, assists and steals.
That performance helped him earn an opportunity at the NCAA Division I level with Southern Utah.
Abellar initially joined the Thunderbirds as a walk-on but eventually worked his way into the rotation. He appeared in 30 games and made 12 starts during the 2024-25 season, finishing with a team-high 67 assists.
He returned for another season with Southern Utah and played 31 games in 2025-26, averaging 3 points and 1.5 assists in 11.5 minutes per contest. Although he was not used as a high-volume scorer, Abellar developed a reputation as a steady floor organizer who could take care of the ball, apply defensive pressure, and provide a calming presence in the backcourt.
Following his final season at Southern Utah, Abellar entered the transfer portal while pursuing an additional year of eligibility. That remaining season will now be spent with UST.
Abellar has both Filipino and Puerto Rican heritage
His connection to Philippine basketball became more visible this year when he suited up for Fil-Am Nation Select in a game against Far Eastern University.
His move to España will now give him an opportunity to compete regularly in the country while strengthening a UST backcourt preparing for another championship push.
Abellar’s ability to initiate the offense and defend opposing guards could allow him to fill several roles for the Growling Tigers, especially as another one-and-done playmaker recruit, Donovan Sevilla, recovers from injury.
