THE UST Growling Tigers clinched their best start in over a decade, proving to the league that the team that once deteriorated into a bunch of whipping boys has regained its reputation as a serious contender.
But the España squad, which toppled defending champions UP Fighting Maroons and ended a win drought against the DLSU Green Archers, finished Round 1 of UAAP Season 88 with a shocking defeat from seventh-placer Adamson Soaring Falcons.
Was the loss a case of an underdog preparing well against a heavily favored rival? Or was it an indication that the Tigers, which are in second place with a 5-2 win-loss card, still have to do more in terms of consistency?
UST team captain Nic Cabañero acknowledged that the Tigers should not take their good start for granted.
“I think the biggest learning for us [this first round] is like, every game counts… So we shouldn’t take the other players for granted,” he told The Flame.
Rather than obsessing over the loss, the 6-foot-2 scorer said the team is focused on bouncing back stronger.
“We won’t dwell on the loss today [against Adamson] because what’s more important is moving forward to the second round,” he added.
The longest tenured Tiger normed 19.43 points and 6.29 rebounds in 33 minutes across seven games, topping the league’s scoring total with 136 points. He is also ranked fourth in the MVP race with 76.751 statistical points.
Cabañero credited the team’s chemistry for their strong first-round showing, which also marked the best start of his UAAP career. The last time the Tigers started this strong was back in Season 78 in 2015, which is the last time they entered the UAAP finals.
“I’m thankful to my coaches and teammates because we worked hard for a year to have a start like this… It’s also my first time experiencing it and I’m blessed that it’s happening in my final year,” he said.
The King Tiger, who saw the squad’s lowest of lows, has finally found a reliable squad to back him up.
Nigerian rookie Collins Akowe lived up to his billing as UST’s inside anchor as he leads the Best Foreign Student-Athlete race with 84.286 statistical points.
The 6-foot-10 big man played all seven games, averaging a double-double of 16.29 points and 15.29 rebounds per 36 minutes of gametime.
Rounding out the numbers leaderboard is Tiger co-captain Forsthky Padrigao, who steadied the Tigers’ backcourt with 13 points and a team-high 4.5 assists for 63.667 statistical points.
UST led the league in offensive firepower, firing 87 points per contest.
Will the Tigers go beyond redemption battle cries and finally bring back the crown to España?
Their consistency and their resolve to bring back the crown to España will be tested when they return to action for the second round of the eliminations, starting with a battle with the DLSU Green Archers at the Mall of Asia Arena on Oct. 25.
“We’ll regroup and make ourselves better for the following games,” Cabañero said. F
