Coach Haydee Ong, Tantoy Ferrer relish fairytale ending to their special bond

UAAP Finals Game 3 – Live Updates

Coach Haydee Ong, Tantoy Ferrer and the UST Growling Tigers celebrate UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball title. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—After University of Santo Tomas’ championship win over National University in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball finals, coach Haydee Ong and Tantoy Ferrer had a chance to show their gratitude to one another.

As expected, it was nothing short of emotional.

In the post-game media scrum, Ferrer, who had both the Season 86 trophy and the Finals MVP hardware in her grasp, sat beside Ong who obviously just finished crying her eyes out for joy.

When Ferrer was asked about her relationship with her head tactician, the Finals MVP couldn’t help but be sentimental.

“Back in 2018, I was recruited by coach Haydee and I didn’t know if I could trust it because I was a province girl heading to Manila. My parents trusted coach when I got here and what she made me feel was so different,” said Ferrer, trying her best to contain her tears.

“Coach, all of our efforts are because of you because you work on us every day. We know that it’s all because of you. We’re here because of you. I know you’ve been waiting for this [title] for a long time… I told myself I won’t leave UST without a championship that I can give you.”

Ong quickly looked for her handkerchief from her picket and cried again, like she did inside the court as soon as the buzzer sounded.

Ong’s muse did not let her down in the most important game of the season.

SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP

UST’s Tanto Ferrer with her Finals MVP trophy after leading the Growling Tigresses to their first UAAP women’s basketball title since 2006.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

With a chance to end the Lady Bulldogs’ dominant seven-peat title run, Ferrer showed why she’s the cream of UST’s crop with a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Words were simply not enough for the head mentor to show her gratitude to the graduating forward but she sure did try, powering on over her tears to say just how much she appreciates her Growling Tigress.

“Me and Tantoy’s relationship is very special. Super special, even. I know when to put her in the game and when not to. As a veteran playing her last year, I told her to give her best. At the end of the day, win or lose, the important thing is that she did her best so she won’t have regrets,” said Ong.

Just how much does the shot caller trust the eventual Finals MVP?

In Game 2 in the best-of-three series, Ferrer caught the flu but still played through it only to falter to the Lady Bulldogs.

Both Ong and Ferrer could have decided to rest the latter but with the most important game of the season, the former’s most important player can’t be absent.

“I told her, ‘Toy, I need you on Wednesday. You have to suit up. We can’t win without you.”

And after 40 minutes of hell, the tandem of Ong and Ferrer with the whole camp of the Black and Gold celebrated the University’s first women’s basketball since 2007.

There will be a tough crucible ahead for the mentor as Ferrer will officially move on away from UST after exhausting all her collegiate years.

But that’s for another day. For now, at least, Ong and Ferrer will celebrate and cherish their sweet, sweet win with the Growling Tigresses.

Post game interview wiht UST Tigresses’ coach Haydee Ong, Kent Pastrana, Finals MVP Tantoy Ferrer, and Nikki Villasin

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