IT WAS in 1995 when the UST Tigresses last tasted a back-to-back UAAP title.
But with all the chips at their grasp, the Tigresses are poised to rewrite that 12-year-old history when they defend their crown as tournament favorites come Season 70.
Losing only three reliables in the off-season, the Tigresses, who wrapped last season’s eliminations with a league-best 9-3 win-loss card, are assured of a relatively intact line-up.
“With a tight line-up and an impressive peformance in the Nike Summer League, the team has big chances of making it a two-in-a-row for UST,” Tan told the Varsitarian.
Powered by 2006 UAAP Mythical Team members Marichu Bacaro and Remia Buenacosa, the Season 69 champions recently bagged the 2007 Nike Summer League (NSL) diadem (see related story above, page 22) last May, underscoring its readiness to slug it out against the best ladies’ hoops teams in the UAAP.
Bacaro and Buenacosa, last year’s prized rookies, who steered the Tigresses to their first title in 11 years, finished second (15.8 ppg) and fifth (11.6 ppg) respectively in produced points per game during their UAAP debut last season.
The duo from Bacolod also barged into the Mythical Five of the recently concluded NSL, with Buenacosa fininshing as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Buenacosa and Bacaro are expected to fill the leadership slack left by team captain Nerisa Noscal and veteran guard Kath Buyco, who both graduated this year.
Unfortunately, lanky center JR Gregorio, who averaged 7. 2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last season, will sit out her final playing year for the Tigresses due to academic deficiencies.
Despite Gregorio’s absence, the Tigresses remain a potent force inside with Buenacosa, veteran forward Elaine Orillano and newcomers Christy Silva and Paula Bombeo serving as UST’s pillars of strength underneath the basket.
Orillano led all veterans with a 8.1-ppg and 5.6-rebounds per game (rpg) clip in Season 69. A native of Cagayan de Oro, Bombeo scored a game-high 16 points in the NSL to lead Tan’s wards in a 93-31 romp over La Consolacion College last May 6 at the Far Eastern University (FEU) gym.
On the other hand, Bacaro, who carved a fifth-best 11.6 ppg in Season 69, is expected to ace UST’s backcourt charge alongside peppery guard Rina Laud and Team-B standout Chow Vega.
After an intensive training which focused on the player’s footwork and a succesful campaign in the NSL, including a 60-56 semifinals victory against UAAP rival Far Eastern University, the Tigresses are raring to stamp consistent off-season mark on the UAAP jungle and relive the championship atmosphere of the 90’s. Ana Mae G. Roa
