Provincial Standouts Join Tiger Cubs as Inigo Strengthens Pipeline

Two emerging provincial standouts are making the move to Manila for their basketball development, as Rain Nedruda and Lubert “King” Macias have officially joined the Manu Inigio and the UST Tiger Cubs program in the UAAP junior division.

The move was confirmed by Anthony Brodett of Phenom Sports Management, marking another strong recruiting win for the University of Santo Tomas program as it continues to reload its high school pipeline under the champion coach.

Rain Nedruda, grade 11, arrives in España with growing recognition from the Ilocos basketball scene, particularly Candon City. In recent months, he has been a frequent presence in local tournament recaps and highlight clips, earning Best Player of the Game honors in municipal-level competition and drawing attention for his scoring instincts and energy on the floor.

His transition to UST places him in a more structured, high-level environment where his raw tools can be refined against elite junior competition.

Lubert “King” Macias, often referred to as KingKing Macias in league posts, brings a similar profile shaped by competitive grassroots play in Mindanao. He has been cited as Best Player of the Game in the MindanaOne D.League and is closely associated with Parola Panaon, where he has been featured in late-2025 highlight posts showcasing downhill drives and confident midrange scoring.

Both players now enter a UST Tiger Cubs program that has re-established itself as one of the most stable and competitive junior teams in the UAAP. Under head coach Manu Inigo, UST has emphasized discipline, role clarity, and long-term player development rather than short-term star dependence.

Inigo, who led the Tiger Cubs to a UAAP championship, is widely credited for building systems that translate well to the collegiate level, producing guards and wings who understand spacing, defensive rotations, and pace control early in their careers.

His teams are known for structured offense, physical man-to-man defense, and a strong emphasis on decision-making.

The Tiger Cubs program has also become a key feeder for the UST Growling Tigers, aligning high school schemes with collegiate concepts to ease player transitions. An example of such was last year’s prized recruit, Koji Buenaflor.

This continuity has made UST an attractive destination for prospects outside Metro Manila, particularly those coming from strong but less nationally visible local leagues.

With confirmation from Phenom Sports Management, the move appears to be both a developmental opportunity for the players and a strategic investment for UST. Nedruda and Macias are expected to compete for roles rather than immediate stardom, but under Inigo’s track record, that path has often been the foundation for long-term success.