After a disastrous 3-11 finish in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament, the UST Growling Tigers found redemption in the 3×3 tourney, beating the De La Salle Green Archers, 21-20, in the finals at the CaSoBe resort in Batangas on June 3, Friday.
Gilas Pilipinas select Sherwin Concepcion was hailed Finals MVP with 12 points, including the game-winning bucket.
“Sabi ko sa mga kasama ko na dapat bumawi kami dito and dapat mabigay natin ‘yong best natin and para maibalik ‘yong mga tiwala ng mga tao sa atin, lalo na ‘yong UST community..‘yong masaklap noong nangyari sa amin noong sa 5×5, ‘yon sabi ko dapat makuha natin itong championship na ito,” Concepcion told the Varsitarian.
Down by nine points, 12-3, in the early minutes of the game, the Tigers went on a 12-3 blitz to tie the game at 15-all.
The Archers were up, 20-19, in the crucial point of the game when Concepcion sank a dagger fadeaway to give the Tigers their first basketball title in 16 years.
Rookie champions
UST’s championship run was led by Concepcion and rookies Nic Cabañero, Royce Mantua and Bryan Santos.
Cabañero said playing in the 3×3 tournament was a huge confidence booster after the Tigers’ forgettable 5×5 finish.
“Sa last performance ko sa 5×5 nakita rin ni coach yung pagiging competitive ko, pagiging fighter ko as a player, at parang binibigay ko yung best ko para sa UST,” Cabañero told the Varsitarian. “Despite ‘yung losses na we encountered last season, stepping stone din ‘yon para sa improvement.”
Mantua, who averaged nine minutes of playing time with 1.67 points per game in the 5×5 tournament, said winning the 3×3 championship was huge in removing his rookie jitters.
“I know I have rookie jitters, it’s all part of the game, […] my teammates helped me out, our coaches gave me confidence as well, I know I did my best. I just have to work more,” Mantua said.
Santos said he thought the Tigers were the best-conditioned team in the 3×3 tournament and attributed their training to their success.
“Araw-araw kami nagprapractice, ‘yun lang sa conditioning, alam naman namin na ‘yung ibang UAAP schools… ‘yung iba nagsaya na, ‘yung iba nag-celebrate na, nawala na ‘yung focus nila sa 3×3,” he said.
The Growling Tigers prevailed over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, the Season 84 5×5 champions, 21-12, to advance to the finals.
UAAP’s 3×3 basketball tournament was introduced in 2018. Season 84’s gold was UST’s first in the tournament’s short history.
