FOR THE second time this school year, the UST administration had called on the students and the University staff alike to wear yellow in support of the Growling Tigers in the third game of their Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) finals match against Ateneo de Manila University —which the Tigers won in an emphatic fashion last Dec. 7.
Although I laud the administration for the extra effort to back the basketball team, it is hoped that same gesture of support could be extended to other UST teams.
The UST Jins, for example, have dominated the UAAP taekwondo tournament over the decades. UST has also been a home to top-caliber jins, including those who have played in the Olympics, such as Tshomlee Go and Donald Geisler.
The Tiger Paddlers, who were confronted by coaching revamp issues last summer, recently clinched their 25th crown, the most in the history of the sport.
In the first place, UST won’t be the 14-time UAAP overall champions—with 39 titles overall—if it does not have the strong league of heroes.
Then again, I have nothing against showing utmost support for the Growling Tigers, who have proven so much in recent years, collecting 18 UAAP titles plus a national collegiate basketball crown, which are all a testament to their greatness. I followed and supported them every inch of their uphill path to glory since I became a student of UST.
It is understandable that basketball is the king of sports in the Philippines. But Filipinos excel in other sports which should be supported.
The other teams want to be seen also as bricks building up UST’s sporting fortress which has been indomitable in the past decades.
Considering that UST is excelling in several sports, the administration will have to declare everyday a Yellow Day, equal to the number of powerhouse squads in the UST sporting bailiwick.
I am of course exaggerating.
But the point is, UST not only has the Tigers, but other athletes as well who, like the mighty Growling Tigers, are going toe-to-toe with their foes to keep their Alma Mater’s unending grace ablaze not only in the academe but also in the sports scene.
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While winning the overall championship has been a fixture for UST, a 15th straight UAAP general crown for UST seems in peril, given that La Salle is ahead of UST by eight points after the first semester of hostilities.
Injuries, academic deficiencies, undermanned roster, among others, confront the second-semester contingent of the University as indicated in the Varsitarian’s Fearless Forecast for this issue.
And while UST still has a virtually tough pack to boast, La Salle musters a horde of sturdy athletes who have the grit to turn down the long-time champions.
But I still keep my faith in UST, which seeks to extend the winning tradition to 15 and 40 overall.
Good luck to all the athletes this semester! May the new Filipino saint, San Pedro Calungsod, bless and guide you along the way! Viva La Liga El Tomasino! Congratulations to the Growling Tigers!
