THE ONCE mighty UST Growling Tigers have dug themselves deep down the rabbit hole in the last couple of years.
During the two previous UAAP seasons, the España-based squad was a mere shadow of its old glorious self, its reputation degenerating from highly formidable to easily beatable.
The team, which made history in the 90s when it won the championship for four consecutive years, has become the lair of whipping boys, finishing with abysmal 1-13 and 2-12 win-loss records in season’s 85 and 86, respectively.
This season, the reinvented and repackaged Growling Tigers are faced with the challenge of regaining the respect they once had in the collegiate league.
With a renewed leadership, a bolstered coaching staff and a blend of veteran presence and fresh talent, the cellar dwellers are offering no excuses for their past failures and are bent on reclaiming their spot among the UAAP’s elite teams.
“We never made any excuses for our performance,” Tigers deputy coach Juben Ledesma told
The Flame on behalf of head coach Pido Jarencio.
“We actually used that to make adjustments, and we learned lessons that we can carry for a better showing this season,” he added.
While the road ahead will be rough, the Tigers have laid a groundwork that they hope will redeem themselves and will bring back the glory days of UST basketball.
New stripes, new hopes
King Tiger Nic Cabañero, who averaged 17.6 points over the past two years, will lead the pack again this season.
The Cebuano cager will now be joined by a fresh wave of talents because of the highly anticipated additions of former Ateneo guard Forthsky Padrigao and UE flamethrower Kyle Paranada, both of whom are expected to fire up UST’s backcourt.
Padrigao, a UAAP Season 85 Mythical Five member, averaged 11 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. His championship pedigree and court vision are expected to upgrade UST’s chances to compete.
“I just want to help the team in the UAAP, build a new culture, and improve on last season’s performance,” he said.
Paranada, who averaged 11.64 points, 4.21 assists, 2.86 rebounds and 1.64 steals in Season 85, is set to drop bombs for España.
“I just wanted to go to a big school like UST, and I want to win games for UST, more than two wins,” he said.
Fil-Am talents Geremy Robinson, Leland Estacio and ex-Ateneo high-flyer Isaac Danting will also debut with the Tiger lair.
The 6-foot-2 Robinson from La Salle is seen to add depth to the team, while the 6-foot-2 Estacio, a shooter with collegiate experience from West Valley College, will be tasked to boost the Tigers’ offense.
Nineteen-year-old Kapampangan high-flyer Isaac Danting, whose athleticism will add another dimension to UST’s lineup, is likewise poised to bring energy and intensity to both ends of the floor.
“We’re fired up to win. This season is a redemption for the UST Growling Tigers. We’re not predicting the outcome, but we want to prove we can win,” Danting said.
Meanwhile, NCAA Junior MVP Amiel Acido is expected to make an immediate impact for UST. A former Perpetual Junior Altas standout, Acido averaged 17.33 points, 11.33 rebounds, and 3.44 assists when he was in Grade 11.
“Of course, I want to bring a crown to UST since this has been my dream school since I was a kid. I’m doing my best to give them a winning season,” Acido said.
In the frontcourt, UST reinforced its size with 6-foot-6 former Batang Gilas hotshot Zayn Mahmoud and 6-foot-4 Chase Lane.
Mali native Mohamed Tounkara took UST’s first foreign student-athlete slot after Adama Faye left the country in Season 86 due to an injury. The Malian bigman got the assignment over Nigerian Peter Osang, who was able to play in a handful of local tournaments.
Brotherhood
As the team enters UAAP Season 87 with a clear focus on team chemistry, brotherhood, and unity, its players believe such core values have been instrumental in their progress both on and off the court.
“For us, the camaraderie is important. We clicked right away as a team, and our chemistry on the court makes playing enjoyable. I’m happy, and that motivates me to play for UST,” Acido said.
Padrigao said the transition was easier than anticipated despite the potential issues in adapting to a new team.
“It was challenging at first, moving from my former school to UST, with new teammates to build chemistry with. But it wasn’t really a struggle because the transition was smooth,” he said.
Results may not happen overnight but the supportive environment among the Growling Tigers has become the “greatest asset” that fuels the team to grow stronger and move forward, Padrigao said.
For Danting, the Tigers’ biggest strength is “playing together as one.”
“You can really see our brotherhood, and we don’t let any [teammates] stay down. We move on to the next play and aim to show even better results,” he added.
New tacticians
Aside from the new players that sharpened the Tigers’ claws, UST will also receive the developmental polish of experienced deputy coaches who will implement Jarencio’s system.
The España-based squad enlisted championship-caliber coaches Juno Sauler and Peter Martin, signaling its sense of urgency to achieve a podium comeback.
Jarencio will now work alongside erstwhile rival Sauler, who orchestrated La Salle’s championship run in 2013 led by Jeron Teng.
Despite the personnel changes, Ledesma said strengthening the bond of players would help the new recruits become accustomed to the team’s system.
The team’s trip to South Korea in August also proved pivotal for their preparation, as they trained and competed against Korean Basketball League teams, including the champions, Busan KCC Egis.
“We were able to measure ourselves since everybody had the chance to play. The coaches used everyone to see how they would perform in certain situations, so we were able to assess each player’s strengths and weaknesses and determine the best situations where they can be utilized,” Tigers co-captain Migs Pangilinan said.
“This is the opportunity for new players to have more time to acclimate, even for the holdovers from last season. More time to really build chemistry. The system is also a better fit compared to previous lineups,” he added.
The Growling Tigers’ quest for redemption will begin on Sunday, Sept. 8, when they battle the UE Red Warriors at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. F – Mc Neil Zyh Serrano
