IT IS nice to see the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers win again a Men’s basketball title after nine long years of fruitless campaigns. The title drought came to a screeching halt after they bested a powerful Ateneo de Manila Blue (ADMU) Eagles squad, 76-74, in overtime last October 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. The victory, according to basketball pundits, puts the Tigers back in the map as a basketball power in college hoopla after several years of absence.
What made UST’s victory even sweeter was the fact that they defeated a very strong team in Ateneo. Who would ever think that the Tigers, who were not even mentioned among the possible contenders for the crown before the UAAP Season started, would emerge victorious?
The current crop of Tigers, such as Jojo Duncil, Anthony Espiritu, rookie sensation Jervy Cruz, unheralded slot man Allan Evangelista (who will graduate this year), point-guards Japs Cuan and Jun Cortez and bench players, like Dylan Ababou, Mark Canlas and Jun Dizon, proved that heart, more than talent, could make a big difference especially during pressure-packed situations like a championship game.
Kudos should also be given to Tigers head coach Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio for providing the leadership and the never-say-die attitude that became the major ingredients in their quest of regaining the basketball plum.
The Thomasian crowd should also be thanked for providing the inspiration to the team.
I was there inside the coliseum when the Thomasian faithful “close to about 10,000 people”came in full force to cheer on their team. Not since 1996, when the Tigers last won a basketball crown under then coach Aric del Rosario, that a show of support was provided by the students, faculty, school officials and even alumni, to the basketball team.
Even the Dominican priests, who are mostly confined to their dormitories in UST, came to the venue to also cheer on and provide the spiritual support for their beloved basketball team.
Jarencio said their victory is just only the start of more good things to come for the Tigers and the whole Thomasian community. He said given the right preparation and the players in his line-up, he is confident that he can give UST more basketball titles in the next few years.
Indeed, watching the Tigers win another title was like witnessing history unfold right before my very eyes given the terrible situation they were in before the season even started.
Viva Santo Tomas! One for UST!
Francis T. Wakefield served as a Varsitarian Sports Editor in 1997-1998. He is now a news and sports writer for the Manila Bulletin.
