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Forthsky Padrigao and the UST Growling Tigers face a UP core that played in the last three UAAP championships, but for coach Pido Jarencio, it’s not an improbable task to erase the Maroons’ twice-to-beat semis edge
MANILA, Philippines – For a team that prides itself with the second-most UAAP men’s basketball titles at 18, the UST Growling Tigers still relish the underdog role.
Viewed as a young, inconsistent team, UST will go up against the more polished and experienced UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four.
“This is a great stepping stone, we just need to work hard for it, since our goal [in the Final Four] is to create game plans on how to beat UP,” said UST’s Pido Jarencio, the head coach who steered the Tigers to their last UAAP championship in 2006.
“It’s like David and Goliath,” he added. “It will be a great matchup, we will fight, as long as we prepare and the players are healthy.”
Although there are still two playdates left in the elimination round, UST already wrapped up its campaign, securing the third spot (7-7) behind leaders La Salle (12-2) and UP (10-3).
The Tigers will need to overcome the twice-to-beat semifinal advantage of the Maroons, who boast a core that played in the UAAP championship series for the past three consecutive seasons.
But it’s not an improbable task since UST pulled off the feat in 2019 when the Tigers erased UP’s twice-to-beat advantage in an upset capped off by Renzo Subido’s game-winning three.
Jarencio said the Tigers should write their own story. For one, the Tigers could use their lengthy rest to their advantage as the Maroons still need to play one more game in their schedule, a crucial matchup against Final Four-seeking UE Red Warriors on Wednesday, November 20.
“Gawa tayong bagong istorya, no? Kami naman ang gagawa ng bagong istorya. Tingnan natin, no? Kanya-kanya istorya yan eh,” said Jarencio.
“Ito ang panahon namin… Iba rin ‘yung players noon, iba rin ‘yung players ngayon. Medyo mas matibay ‘yung players ng mga UP,” added Jarencio, whose Tigers got swept by the Maroons in the elimination round — an 81-70 loss in the first round, and an 83-73 setback in the second.
(We will write a new story, but let’s see, since every story is different. It’s a different time… The players then are different from now. UP’s players are better.)
“Pero ako naman eh, kumpiyansa naman ako dito sa mga players ko (I am confident of my players),” added Jarencio.
Key cogs
UST guard Forthsky Padrigao, who was one of the stars of Ateneo’s last championship team in Season 85 in 2022, was brought in to orchestrate the Tigers’ offense.
“This has been a different kind of challenge for us, since all throughout the season, I don’t think we ever became consistent — ups and downs, and downs,” the floor general said.
“When we finally got the most important win, we worked hard for this, since this is what we’ve always waited for as a team.”
Nic Cabañero, the team’s leading scorer at 16.3 points per game, will see action in the playoffs for the first time in his collegiate career.
A UST reliable through thick and thin, all Cabañero wants is to make the most of the opportunity.
“I’m just gonna do my role for UST, for the team,” he said. “Stay ready and have a good mentality.” – Rappler.com
