Tag: Vol. LXXXI

IT WAS a payback four years in the making.

After a heartbreaking loss to season favorite Ateneo Blue Eagles, the Growling Tigers got their momentum back at the expense of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, in a 92-88 seesaw chase last July 25, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

It was UST’s first win over UE since an 82-81 decision in the Final Four of 2006, the same season when the Tigers won the championship over perennial rivals Ateneo.

Winning against UE catapulted UST on the top of the team standings, tying with Ateneo with a similar 3-1 win-lose slate. The Blue Eagles received an unlikely loss, 58-68 courtesy of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last July 26.

“We were able to prepare and execute the right defense and offense tailored-fit to the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent,” coach Pido Jarencio said about their UE match.

Tigers’ ace gunner Dylan Ababou erupted for 28 points and seven rebounds while Khasim Mirza contributed 20 points and six boards.

UST big man Christopher Camus also had his share of the spotlight as he registered a “double-double” figure of 12 markers.

THE FIRST round just became even sweeter for the Tiger Cubs.

Marching to their fourth straight victory in the season, the Cubs thwarted the Adamson University Baby Falcons, 74-60, to stay unscathed, at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan last July 25.

Wanting to erase last year’s stigma of faltering during the fourth game, the Cubs came out confident in their face-off against Adamson even leading by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter, 62-47, courtesy of Cederick Labing-isa’s steady shooting.

“It was a hard-fought game for us. They played a little tensed because they are bothered by last year’s experience,” coach Allan Ascue said.

A 6-0 opening salvo gave UST an early advantage, bolstered by a resounding dunk from Kyle Neypes, 12-7, going into the final two minutes of the period.

THE ERRATIC Tigresses absorbed their second loss in three outings, bowing to the UP Lady Maroons, 44-55, at the Philsports Arena last July 25.

Despite playing solid defense, the Tigresses didn’t take care of the ball well against the Lady Maroons, which was pretty much the story of behind the 33-56 drubbing they got in the hands of the defending champion Far Eastern University.

Against UP, the Tigresses committed 33 turnovers, which the Lady Maroons converted into 24 points.

“They had good defense but their composure was lost because they were rushing,” coach Julie Amos said. “They were still half-hearted during the game and forgot to look for mismatches.”

The first half was close with UST leading 25-23. But passing errors in the third quarter allowed UP to gain the upperhand, 36-32.

THOMASIAN athletes now have every reason to go “home” after a hard day’s work.

Their new home, the GMG Active Dormitory, has gotten an upgrade, befitting top-class athletes who have made UST perennial UAAP champions.

Surveillance cameras were installed in each floor to ensure the security of the entire dormitory, which currently houses 199 athletes.

This way, the management can efficiently monitor the situation inside the premises.

Upon the University’s request, grills were also constructed around the building to prevent thieves from climbing up the walls of the dorm. There’s also an ample number of security guards.

Besides the strict security arrangements, athletes are also served three meals a day, free of charge. A new cook was hired, supervised by his predecessor, to ensure that no substandard food is served.

AS CHAMPAGNE poured into the San Miguel Beermen dug-out, the limelight dwelled on a former UST Growling Tiger spitfire and now San Miguel head coach Bethune “Siot” Tanquincen.

He steered the country’s winningest ballclub in the 2009 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Motolite Fiesta Cup to its 18th championship crown, snapping the Beermens’ four-year title dry spell last July 17 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I told the players before Game 6 that God gives opportunities. It is how you respond to these opportunities that will define you as a person and as a team, said Tanquincen, whose team bounced back from a 2-3 finals series en route to a classic fairytale sequel.

Incidentally, the dagger went straight into the heart of his former squad, crowd-favorites Barangay Ginebra Kings, the same team he led to the “Promised Land” during the 2004 PBA Gran Matador Fiesta Conference.

AS THEIR rebuilding stage progresses, the UST Golden Booters kicked off their pre-season tune ups with a morale-boosting 2-0 opener against De La Salle-Lipa in the Ang Liga Football Cup last July 26 at the San Beda College football field.

“We don’t have many problems in our offense and defense. The players just need more experience and exposure,” said Golden Booters’ head coach Marjo Allado. “Our ball movement is good but we still need to look into how we finish.”

The ball rolled inside UST’s bailiwick for most of the game, showing a more offensive-minded squad throughout the duel.

The defensive wit of De La Salle-Lipa goalkeeper Gregg Atijon was tested for the nth time, with UST firing a series of attempts to the goal. Finally, Golden Booter Mandy Lunag sidestepped countless La Salle defenders to unleash a fiery kick, giving UST a vital one-point advantage as the ball kissed the net at the 24th minute of the first half.

WATCHING the Growling Tiger’s basketball games on the college lobby television sets is definitely one of the simple joys of being a college student.

Apart from the free viewing, being one with the crowd in cheering your school brings anyone a sense of pride. A common scenario would be the building guard opening the television set and, like beetles to a dung heap, students gather in front of the square black box once they hear the familiar sounds of a live basketball game.

SHOWING Thomasian spirit just got more costly.

Basketball fanatics were irked after UAAP tickets for the Season 72 opening games were sold with tiger headbands worth P100 during the Recruitment 101 fair from July 6 to 10.

“Initially, I was shocked because of the price. I also thought the headband was unnecessary because with or without it, one can show support for UST,” said Veronica Anne Villafuerte, a sophomore Legal Management student.

Janine Ma. Gonzales, a classmate of Villafuerte, was also surprised that she had to shell out P500 for two tickets that normally cost P300.

UST HAS invaded the Internet radio networks after the Educational Technology Center (EdTech) and the Office of the Secretary General launched “Tigerradio”— the country’s first online broadcasting university station.

e-Radio, accessible through http://eradio.ust.edu.ph/tigerradio//, airs campus-related programs like TAHO, a gospel reading show, KwenTomasino, which features “real” Thomasian stories, and Pusong Pamon, a show similar to DZMM’s advice show “Dr. Love.”

The online station was launched last July 22 at the UST Main Building ,with a the congratulatolatory message from Fr. Butch Bombase, O.P., founder of the Radio Dominico of Manaoag. The call served as a phone patch test for the e-Radio. Magic 89.9 disk jockey Michaela “Junior Jock Mika” Langiton was among the guests.

The Growling Tigers dominated early then withstood a final push to narrowly edge a pesky Adamson team, 76-75, in the curtain-raiser of Season 72 at the Araneta Coliseum last July 11.

Khasim Mirza came up big for UST, exploding for 23 points on 8-of-11 field goal shooting, while Clark Bautista and Dylan Ababou combined for 21 markers.

“I told them not to hesitate in taking shots and be decisive in every possession,” coach Pido Jarencio said.

And that’s exactly what the Tigers did during the first three quarters, until the Soaring Falcons came alive in the fourth and came within striking distance, 76-73.

But Adamson’s Roider Cabrera squandered his chance to tie the game, missing a crucial triple with six seconds remaining in the game

In the succeeding play, the Falcons settled for an easy two by Jan Colina then quickly fouled Mirza. The gamble paid off as Mirza missed both free throws, but time ran out on Adamson.

The Tigers dictated the tempo for most of the game, confusing the Falcons with their run-and-gun play.

Mirza provided a highlight reel in the third quarter with a two-handed jam to even the score at 48. Jeric Fortuna brought UST back in the driver’s seat on its next possession, converting a two-pointer off a Bautista assist.