THE INEVITABLE has finally caught up with the UST Growling Tigers.
Despite an inspired second round rally highlighted by a stunning upset of the fancied Ateneo Blue Eagles, the Growling Tigers came up short and fell prey to a vicious pre-season predicament that hounded them throughout the tournament.
For the first time since the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) adopted the final four format in 1994, UST would not be a part of the semifinal round action.
The Tigers ended the 64th UAAP season in sixth place with a 6-8 card after their non-bearing win over University of the East, 76-72, last Sept. 15 at the Loyola Gym.
The Tigers blew three crucial matches that could have given them a ticket to the final four: against National University, De La Salle University and Far Eastern University.
After trouncing the Adamson University Falcons and Ateneo Blue Eagles for their only back-to-back victories of the season, the Tigers were on a roll, signaling a final surge of hope in reentering the final four.
Inspired play from Tiger swingmen Nino Gelig, Emmerson Oreta, and Derrick Hubalde, plus the classy performance of center Alwin Espiritu lifted the Espana-based squad to the momentum-building victories. Also, key adjustments by coach Aric del Rosario like putting 6’3” Tiger Christian Luanzon in the point guard spot did wonders for UST.
However, the Tigers’ semifinals’ bid was decided in the homestretch of the eliminations as UST’s waterloos consumed their final four drives.
Free-throw shooting, assists, turnovers, and late-game breakdown pinned the once fabled “four-peaters” down to the ground.
In their first heartbreaker against the NU Bulldogs, 69-72, the Espana-based cagers were all pumped up and on their way through a cruising route. But the Bulldogs, led by pesky guard Froilan Baguion, bit back and rallied in the endgame, outgunning the Tigers, 42-30, in the second half to steal the game.
Similar crunch time breakdown happened in their second all-important game against defending champion Green Archers, 64-62.
This time, the late-game collapse was camouflaged by their horrendous free throw shooting. UST missed four of six crucial charity baskets compared to the Green Archers who sank four of their five freebies in the deciding moments of the game.
In the game that meant the whole world for the Tigers, the Espana-based cagers were all heart and guts for 40 minutes against the FEU Tamaraws. But when the game went into overtime and the battle turned into a free throw shooting contest, UST just could not deliver.
A shot in the arm is what took place as the Tigers folded into the pressure of the 15-foot stripe and connected only of their four attempts compared to FEU’s six of 10 conversions.
One of their worst starts in recent memory, UST began the UAAP hoop wars limping due to the loss of several key players. High-flying Cyrus Baguio, and big men Melchor Latoreno, Kenneth Co Yu Kang, and Gilbert Lao were all barred from playing this year due to academic deficiencies.
The Tigers pathetic first round showing with its 2-5 win-loss card might have been the difference as they were taken out of contention early in the tournament.
UST lost one game to UE while it also yielded both matches against FEU and NU.
With powerhouse La Salle and Ateneo contesting the top two spots, the battle has been in the lower bracket of the final four. But with the Espana-based Tigers failing to contend with their close rivals. Christian Ace J. Pasco
