UST Growling Tigers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of Santo Tomas drew a huge motivation from former coach Pido Jarencio presence at the dugout during at the half.
The UST legend, who is now coaching GlobalPort in the PBA, gave choice words to the Growling Tigers after a lackadaisical first half, emerging out of the locker room with a grin on his face.
READ: Masterful showing from Ferrer as UST extends UAAP finals to game 3
And it did happen, with Kevin Ferrer going berserk with six treys in the third quarter for a game-high 29 points to give UST control and set up the close Game 2.
The team captain admitted that got additional confidence from Jarencio’s words at halftime.
“Of course, he’s our former coach, and he’s really all-out in supporting the team so it really boosts our confidence,” Ferrer said in Filipino.
After the Growling Tigers’ thrilling 62-56, victory, Jarencio shared a moment with his players like Ferrer and Karim Abdul as the Tigers get another crack and nabbing the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball title.
READ: Jarencio to attend in UAAP Finals game 2, show support for Tigers
Head coach Bong Dela Cruz said that the fire the Tigers showed in game two was what they sorely lacked in last Wednesday’s loss.
“Kami as a group, as a family, yun ang kailangan namin. Yung family nung first game nawala eh. Today, we executed the game plan at nanalo,” said dela Cruz.
(As a group, as a family, that’s what we needed. The family in the first game was gone. Today, we executed the game plan and we won.)
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