UNFORTUNATELY, the third time still was not the charm.
The Tigers, for the third time in the last four years, ended another season with a heartbreak, losing to the FEU Tamaraws in three games for the UAAP basketball championship.
In the winner-take-all game, UST stormed back from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter as Ed Daquioag took over and gave the Tigers a six-point lead, 59-53, with over three minutes left in the game.
But FEU’s Roger Pogoy had other plans. He scored seven straight points to secure the Tamaraws’ 20th basketball title and their first since 2005.
“As a head coach, losing the Finals, sobrang sakit. Sobrang painful ng loss. Third time eh. ‘Yung mga kasama kong beterano na pangatlong finals, nandito sa puso namin. Sobrang sakit,” head coach Bong dela Cruz told the Varsitarian after Game 3.
Kevin Ferrer, who waxed hot with 29 points in UST’s Game 2 victory, said he did not regret anything in his five-year stint with the Tigers. He was held to six markers in his final game as a Growling Tiger.
In his five years with UST, he said was most proud this season when he led the team to an 11-3 record and a Finals appearance.
“Wala naman kumikilala sa amin na aabot kami dito. I’m so proud na napatunayan ng team na kayang pumunta sa championship.”
Karim Abdul, the Cameroonian big man who manned the paint for the last five years, said he’s leaving with a heavy heart for failing to win a title.
With the whole starting lineup gone for next season, second-year tactician Dela Cruz will have to rebuild the Tigers under newcomer Mario Bonleon and Rookie of the Year runner-up Marvin Lee.
