THE CURRENT UAAP hoop wars paint a very unfamiliar picture of the UST Growling Tigers.
Gone is the fearsome aura of the ballclub that copped four straight championships from 1993-1996. Big-time players like Dennis Espino, Bal David, Richard Yee, and Dale Singson no longer dominate the UST bench. What is left of the Tigers this season are youthful studs who are out in the hardcourt to give guts-out plays to preserve the pride and the winning tradition the former players left behind.
Since the Final Four format was introduced in 1994, the Tigers have always figured as contending semi-finalists. Star-studded or rookie-laden, the Tigers always managed to find a way into the Final Four.
This year’s batch of players, however, will be fighting for life as UST’s long and unblemished record in entering the Final Four is in jeopardy. This season, the recruitment program and preparations by universities are tremendous. Unlike in the past where only a handful of teams would contend for the title, this year promises a topsy-turvy hunt for the championship where every team can have a crack at the title because of a surprisingly balanced league.
Coach Aric Del Rosario and his rookie-filled crew face a steep season ahead of them, because of the exodus of key players in the team. Their backs against the wall, the Tigers will have to make do as underdogs trying to bite back and to elude the nightmare of missing the Final Four.
Underdogs
While last season saw a celebrated team that enthusiasts hailed as favorites, this year is quite different for UST.
The Tigers are now tagged as underdogs due to the loss of notable players in the pre-season. Beanpole Tiger Gilbert Lao, forward Melchor Latoreno, center Kenneth Co Yu Kang, and swingman Cyrus Baguio will no longer see action as they were deemed ineligible to play because of academic deficiencies.
Slotman Marvin Ortiguerra, on the other hand, has decided to join the professional ranks as he now plays for Sta. Lucia Realty, alongside former Tigers Espino and Gerard Francisco, in the PBA. The loss of these towering marquee players will really have an impact on the team as it is reduced in size.
“Malaking bagay ang pagkawala ng mga players ko lalo na’t karamihan ng nawala ay ‘yung mga big man. Sila ang pinaka haligi kasi kapag may malalaki kang players mas nakaaangat ka sa depensa at rebound,,“ Del Rosario explained.
High-flying Baguio’s offensive prowess, on the other hand, will be missed sorely. Leading the short-lived charge of the Tigers last season, the veteran Tiger was the team’s go-to-guy, as he finished ninth in the MVP race.
Adjustments
Aware of his personnel shortage in the shaded lane, coach Aric used the summer tournaments as a ground for preparations and adjustments.
Rookies Mark Nanninga and Warren de Guzman will provide the needed help in the paint for starting center Alwin Espiritu, who has yet to play his usual quality game as he is still recovering from an injury.
Six feet and seven inches tall, Nanninga, who was discovered by the UST mentor on a billiard hall, is expected to relieve Espiritu and give the Tigers some added body below the rim. Though still raw, the former Letran and San Sebastian cager has shown signs of improvement in the summer leagues, such as the Ambrosio Padilla tournament and the Fr. Martin’s Cup.
Meanwhile, De Guzman is a bright spot among the newcomers this year. Although he was not drafted to the line-up last season due to a complete cast of big men, the former Tiger cub brought a needed blue-collar attitude to the team. As he cleared the defensive boards, hustled for loose balls, and even contributed in the offensive chores, De Guzman was a key factor in the Tigers’ gallant 66-59 stand against powerhouse Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the season opener as he scored eight points despite the lost.
Improving every game, he once again displayed hats-off attitude in the Tigers 66-54 rout of the Adamson University Falcons where he collared 10 boards, not to mention crucial defensive work on Falcon inside-operator Steven Rolan.
But the main adjustment Del Rosario will impose is the change in thrust from last year’s big-men attack to explosive wing players like team captain Emmerson Oreta, Derrick Hubalde, and Niño Gelig.
“Kailangan gumanda ang laro ng mga wing, para ‘yung kulang sa big man, ibabawi ko na lang sa mga wing man ko,“ coach Aric said.
True enough, the wingmen responded by carrying the scoring load for the team in its first two outings. Deadshot three-point specialist Hubalde led the charge and tallied 15 and 18 points against FEU and Adamson, respectively. Tiger spitfire Oreta, high-leaping Gelig, and point guard Jake Agleron completed the Tiger‘s guard-forward assault as they also posted double figures in the UST thrashing of the Falcons.
Without dominant big players, the Tigers have to live and die with their outside shooting. Snipers in the team are a luxury with Hubalde, Oreta , Gelig and Agleron all capable of lighting it up from the perimeter. Second-stringers Jinino Manansala and Christian Luanzon, meanwhile, will also provide additional outside firepower if the starters fail to deliver.
In their first victory against Adamson, the Tigers compensated their woeful 39-percent, two-point field goal shooting by a blistering 11 of 26 shooting from beyond the arc. Led by Hubalde’s four triples, UST converted an outstanding 33 of its 66 points in the three-point territory.
The difference
Though his team consists of nine rookies and lacks tall players, coach Aric seems to be comfortable with his line-up this year.
“Last year ‘yung laro, wala sa gusto ko. Mas maganda ngayon, walang star,” the multi-titled coach said.
Coach Aric likes what he sees in his team noting that they are more cohesive this season as everyone learns their respective roles in the team.
Last summer, the UST mentor maximized his resources and experimented on his new players hoping to discover hidden aces who could be of use. Revelations occurred as De Guzman blossomed while role players Iago Raterta and Rovie Ryd Baguio also found their niches in the team. Orchestrators Don don Villamin and John Glen Manching, on the other hand, do the set-up chores for the Tigers who will now have to rely on good ball movement to find the open shooter as they lack a real low post threat.
“Ang pagkakaiba nitong team na ito compared to last year, kahit anong mangyari maglalaro sila, wala silang iniisip na baka mapilay o masaktan. ‘Yun ang pagkakaiba kasi they fight, hundred percent,” coach Aric said.
The spirit and attitude of the Tigers this year separate them from last year’s batch of players. Tthgis year’s players make up for their experience by unrelenting hustles of sheer hard work.
“Kahit lamang ‘yung last year’s players sa experience, mas gusto ko na ‘yung ngayon (team) kasi mas lamang sila sa spirit,“ the Tiger mentor said.
Green menace
The road back to the championship has been derailed by a nemesis. Playing bridesmaid to UST in three of the Tigers’ four straight championships, De La Salle is now giving the Tigers a dose of their own medicine.
For four years now, the paths of the Tigers and the Archers have always crossed and spelled nothing but bad fortune for the España-based cagers. And it only gets harder as De La Salle is bent on duplicating UST’s “four-peat”.
Though there is a lot of pride at stake, coach Aric does not seem bothered and feels no pressure in stopping the three-time champion Archers this season. “Talagang ganun, pana-panahon lang iyan,” Aric said.
Last July 26, the Tigers suffered its sixth consecutive setback against the Green Archers as UST once again failed to put a halt to their jinx. The last time the Tigers won against the Archers was in game one of 1998-1999 championship showdown.
After that, the Tigers were never the same as La Salle bagged the crown by conquering the next two games. They even extended their mastery of the España-based cagers by sweeping all their head-to-head matches last year.
Deadly bite
Unlike in the past when it dominated the UAAP basketball kingdom, the Tigers this season are reduced to a team fighting for survival.
“Wala kaming chance na mag-relax ngayon, kailangan simula pa lang ng game pukpok na kami, ‘yun ang advantage, ang aggressiveness namin mas nadoble,” team captain Oreta said.
Like a real tiger, UST is more deadly when threatened. With the debacle of missing a UAAP Final Four encounter on the line, expect the Tigers to dish an all-out devil-may-care attack in the games.
Being the underdogs, the Tigers won’t get the spotlight. And the Tigers that they are, they attack when unaware, and unguarded. Then, the sure kill will be theirs for the taking. Christian Ace J. Pasco
