THE TIGERS need to grow up. Fast.
The departure of Most Valuable Player (MVP) Dylan Ababou and other veterans has left UST with a young squad that will need a good dose of maturity and poise for a return trip to the Final Four.
Coach Pido Jarencio is optimistic that teamwork will do the trick for a lineup with no clear superstar.
“I always emphasize to them (Tigers) that basketball is a team game,” he said in Filipino. “Right now, we are playing as a team both in defense and in offense.”
Without a go-to-guy in the lineup, big man Chris Camus, Carmelo Afuang and the backcourt tandem of Clark Bautista and Jeric Fortuna will lead the UST charge this season. Not to mention sophomore Jeric Teng, who was a revelation in his rookie year.
Jarencio expects former Ateneo Blue Eaglet Paulo Pe and ex-Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder Eduardo Daquioag Jr. to step up this season as Kenneth Mamaril, a former Team B, is recovering from a nose surgery and will be back in harness next month.
As part of their preseason groundwork, the Tigers joined the Millennium Basketball League and finished fourth place. They also had several tune-up games with other collegiate varsity teams aside from their twice-a-day training at the UST gym.
The fiery coach sees a bright future for UST in time for its grand Quadricentennial celebration next year.
“(Year) 2011 is a different story. By that time, I see a more complete line-up for the team,” Jarencio said. “The team should not be pressured because we did not recruit any player who has established a name in high school. Those who allot a big amount of money just to get their recruits should be.”
UST entered the Final Four last year with a crucial help from the National University Bulldogs, who spoiled De La Salle Green Archers’ hopes to force playoffs with the Tigers for the fourth and last spot in the semis.
Luck was not enough to carry the Tigers in the Finals though, as they suffered a 64-81 drubbing in the hands of twice-to-beat Ateneo. The Blue Eagles went on to win the championship. Anne Marie Carmela L. Dayauon
