SEVERAL things stood out during the UST Growling Tigers’ emphatic victory over the UE Red Warriors in their season opener — new recruits on the court, an improved coaching staff on the sidelines, and most noticeably, the Tigers had longer hair, signaling the end of their bald tradition.
In 2023, two months after Pido Jarencio was reinstated as the Tigers’ head coach, the team adopted a bald look reminiscent of UST’s 2006 championship team. However, the attempt to replicate that success failed, with the Tigers winning just two games that season.
Now, the bald heads are gone, as Jarencio confirmed.
“Ang dami ko kasing nababasa, ‘yong mga nahuhuli at nakukulong, puro kalbo e…kaya sabi ko, ‘tama na ‘yan,’” Jarencio quipped after the game. “Sabi ko, kung anong gusto niyong buhok, isuot niyo.”
The only tradition Jarencio is keen on establishing now is a winning one.
“Bagay naman sa hitsura nila ang may mga buhok. Okay na ako d’yan; basta ang importante, manalo tayo.”
Jarencio first introduced the bald tradition during Season 69 in 2006, his debut year as UST coach when he led the team to its 18th UAAP title. The shaved heads symbolized the team’s sacrifice for UST.
Although the Tigers showed promising signs in their opening game, Jarencio said there is still a long season ahead.
“Long season ahead, first game pa lang. Basta itong mga ‘to (Tigers), ‘yong character nila hindi magbabago ‘to,” he said. “Makikipagpitpitan talaga ‘tong mga to, makikipagpatayan, fair play lang lahat ‘to.”
“Basta makikita niyo ‘yong excitement sa mga players na ‘to, and I’m also excited. Para sa kanila ‘to, hindi para sa akin,” he added.
The UST Growling Tigers will next face the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday, Sept.11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Venerando P. Pagaduan VII with reports from Rafael Paolo P. Salaya
