Tag: Bong Dela Cruz

DESPITE the UST Growling Tigers' disappointing exit in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup, the emergence of Ed Daquioag as a leader and capable scorer is a bright spot that the Tigers can look forward to in the upcoming UAAP season.

With UST missing the services of Renzo Subido and Karim Abdul due to various medical concerns, and Kevin Ferrer to commitment to the national team, Daquioag carried the Tigers on his back and has been a near unstoppable force on the offensive end, averaging 20.38 points per game in eight outings.

Dec. 19, 2014, 5:41 p.m. - UST GROWLING Tigers assistant coach Ernesto “Estong” Ballesteros has formally resigned from his duties to focus on other matters.

In a phone interview with the Varsitarian Friday, Ballesteros said he originally planned to leave with former head coach Pido Jarencio earlier this year.

But he said he stayed when asked by new chief tactician Bong dela Cruz to stay put.

“Plano ko na rin sumabay kay coach Pido kaso nag-stay naman ako dahil kinausap ako ni coach Bong," he said.

THIS is not our year.

The UST Growling Tigers failed to end their forgettable season on a high note after a 73-78 loss to the University of the East Red Warriors in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sept. 16.

Graduating team captain Aljon Mariano went all out in his last UAAP game with the Tigers after finishing with a game-high 18 points despite their elimination in the Final Four race by a loss to De La Salle University two games back.

With less than two minutes left in the payoff period, the Growling Tigers trimmed a 12-point deficit to six, 69-75, after Karim Abdul scored four straight points.

GROWLING Tigers head coach Bong de la Cruz broke down in tears inside the locker room moments after losing another heartbreaker to De La Salle University, 60-67, at the Mall of Asia Arena last Sept. 6.

De la Cruz took the blame after the Tigers, strong title contenders heading into the new season, missed the Final Four despite having a strong lineup and two finals appearances. Delfin Ray M. Dioquino

"Ako dapat i-blame, ako lahat ang sasagot ng maling nangyari this year," de la Cruz told the Varsitarian after the Tigers absorbed their seventh loss in 12 games.

With co-team captain Aljon Mariano struggling, the UST Growling Tigers found an unlikely hero in reserve forward Kent Lao in their victory against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

Lao, who shot six of eight from the field, led the UST bench with a career-high 14 points, providing crucial buckets for the Tigers in the end-game, including the game-clinching layup.

"I was also surprised with my performance," he told the Varsitarian in Filipino. "My mindset was for us to execute all the plays and defend well."

Head coach Bong Dela Cruz acknowledged that he should have given Lao more minutes in UST's last outing, a humiliating loss to the National University.

THE UST Growling Tigers are looking to make a big impact this season following back-to-back losses in the finals the past two years.

But the road to another finals appearance might not be easy for the Tigers, who will be without gunners Jeric Teng and Clark Bautista. They also have a new coach in Bong Dela Cruz, who replaced Pido Jarencio.

“We still need to gel and bond as a team since we have only been together recently,” the rookie coach said.

Dela Cruz admitted that his wards still had to work on their chemistry and teamwork, considering that injuries kept him from working with a full lineup during the off-season.

But though the team still needed adjustments, Dela Cruz vowed that the Tigers would still be competitive.