NEVER in recent UAAP history has there been a host school’s men’s basketball team winning the cage title at the end of the season. Can the Tigers buck the trend?
Going beyond expectations has marked the Tigers’ UAAP resurgence in Season 69 after essaying a Cinderella finish against tournament favorite Ateneo which ended a ten-year title drought for the España-based squad.
Nailed at the cellar after the first round, the Tigers got their act together in the second round to sneak into the final four with a 7-6 win-loss card in the eliminations, ultimately finishing with an 11-7 slate.
Apart from three more wins in the elimination round compared to their Season 68 campaign, the Tigers improved on their winning margin from 5 points in Season 68 to 7.1 points last season, a testament to the maturity developed by the players under the tutelage of then rookie head coach Pido Jarencio.
“I just prepare my boys no matter how tall the odds are,” or nothing at all,” Jarencio told the Varsitarian. “We just concentrate on our game, criticisms and expectations aside.”
Unfazed
Parading an almost intact line-up, the Tigers only lost two men, veteran swingman Jemal Vizcarra and skipper Allan Evangelista, to graduation. But the unceremonious exodus of main man Jojo Duncil from the Tigers’ roster due to eligibility issues (see related story below, page 23) has fueled misgivings in and out of the UST camp regarding the ability of the Tigers to defend their title come Season 70.
But Jarencio is unfazed, saying that even without Duncil, whom he believed is eligible to play for the Tigers despite the accusation, UST is still armed to the teeth on both ends of the floor.
“These accusations are nothing but lies designed to malign the team and the institution,” Jarencio said. “Duncil is eligible to play for the team and whatever circumstances the opposition will throw at us, we will always be ready for it,” Jarencio said.
Returning to lead UST’s frontcourt blitz is Mythical Team member Jervy Cruz. The 6’5” slotman averaged a league-best 12.8 boards and 16.2 points per game (ppg).
Beefed up by intense off-season weight training, UST expects inside fireworks from bruisers Jun Dizon, Chester Taylor, and lanky center Mark Canlas.
While Cruz and company will be manning the paint, court generals Japs Cuan and Jun Cortez are tipped to set the Tigers’ offensive table from the backcourt. Cuan led the league in steals last season, averaging 6.3 dishes a game along with 6.5 points a game. Expect an improved shooting stroke from Cuan, an area in his game that needed improvement.
Back-up point guard Cortez normed seven points a game despite limited playing time, an improvement from his 3.6 scoring clip in Season 68 with relatively similar playing time.
Meanwhile, versatile wingmen Anthony Espiritu and Dylan Ababou are deemed to provide the numbers from the perimeter and beyond.
Espiritu, who was the eighth-best three-point shooter last season, averaged 9.4 ppg while Ababou chalked up 10 points an outing to emerge as the Tigers’ premier off-the-bench spitfire.
Slowly but surely, the young guns are maturing. “These kids stepped up for us when we really needed it, especially when a number of our starters went down with various illnesses,” Jarencio said. “Consistency is what I want to instill in them this off-season. If these kids perform day in and day out, no on can stop us,” he added.
In addition to the returning Tigers, rookie forwards Kashim Mirza and Kiko Soriano and guards Rum Perry Scott, Hector Badua, and Darryl Basa are set to growl on the hardcourt alongside their veteran kin.
Not missing a beat
Preparations for the upcoming season started as soon as the last one ended. “We took a break for a little while but we never let up our training,” Jarencio said.
Strength and conditioning was first on the to-do list of Jarencio. Inspired by boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao’s amazing conditioning, Jarencio and his coaching staff held boxing exercises to further boost the team’s stamina.
The UST team also had a stint in the PBL, playing under the Kettle Korn franchise.
Despite failing to notch a single victory, the experience has helped the Tigers sharpen their claws, mentally and physically, Jarencio added.
UST also plunged into overseas action, carving a modest bridesmaid finish behind the Malaysian national team in the Penang Unity Cup-Southeast Asian Basketball Invitational tournament.
“The stint in Malaysia further developed the familiarity of the team with one another,” Jarencio said.
Although season 70 will be an uphill climb with the return of perennial title-contender La Salle, Jarencio assured the Thomasian faithful that there will be a lot to cheer about the Tigers.
