The Growling Tigers go out fighting, look forward to next year

Photo by August Dela Cruz

MANILA, Philippines—Another season, another failed mission.

Still, you can’t say these UST Growling Tigers did not try. Given up as Eagle fodder after a pair of blowout losses to Ateneo, UST fought tooth-and-nail in the Final Four—running on little else but faith.

Reality, though, wouldn’t let the school celebrating its 400th anniversary highlight its celebration with a little court drama. The Tigers dropped a 66-69 defeat to Ateneo and was even just as a three-point shot away from forging overtime and a shot at a do-or-die game.

Clearly, this wasn’t the same UST squad Ateneo feasted on in the preliminaries.

“You saw how we played during the first round and second round, we were a totally different team this final four,” said UST’s charismatic head coach Pido Jarencio.

“I really wanted Ateneo to be our opponent here in the final four,” he added. The Tigers  clawed back from 10 points down in the last three minutes to come even within a point with 5.5 ticks left.

But Jarencio, who once propelled UST to one of the most stunning championships in the UAAP, could not hide his disappointment in the locker room shortly after.

“My target for us was to make it to the finals,” Jarencio told his boys. “I am the most disappointed among all of you because I really had faith in you. I know we are more than just a Final Four team.”

“Our weaknesses came out, but I saw the heart of our squad,” said Jarencio.

“We didn’t want to be humiliated again. We wanted to prove everyone wrong and we kept on working hard,” said a crestfallen Jeric Fortuna, whose hot hands all season long buoyed UST to impressive wins—even though it failed him in his last shot of the season.

“I rushed my shot. I thought it was straight, but could have dribled one more before taking it,” Fortuna quietly added, as a his trey with 2.7 ticks left simply hit the glass and bounced off as the time ran out.

Jarencio won’t blame Fortuna for the missed shot. After all, the former La Salle Zobel playmaker had blossomed into a star for the Tigers this season.

“Coach [Pido] guided me. He taught me how to pick my spots and how to be patient [in the offense],” said Fortuna.

And just like Jarencio, Fortuna always knew the Growling Tigers could make it far this season, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

“We were confident. I saw how the other teams played and I know we could create match up problems. Karim [Abdul], [Jeric] Teng had a good showing and the rest of the team,” Fortuna added.

And with the possibility of some of the mainstays sticking around, and with Teng and Abdul bound to grow even stronger—UST might just sustain the hot steak, defy the odds anew, and fight its way to the top.

The Tigers are now looking forward to another year. And hopefully, it won’t be another disappointment.

“We’re not destined yet [for the championship]. But for sure next year, we’ll be better,” Jarencio said.