UST Growling Tigers: Twice the heartbreak, thrice the hunger for title in UAAP Season 77

When Aljon Mariano bucketed two free throws to tie the game at 65-all with under a minute left in the payoff period, the crowd in yellow at the jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena celebrated like it was in Season 69.

The next sequence left the De La Salle University hopefuls mummed after a failed possession. Former UST coach Pido Jarencio then called a timeout, with a mindset of making the most crucial play that will leave a mark in the collegiate basketball history.

Jeric Teng after Game 3 of UAAP men's basketball finals last
season. Photo by Tristan Tamayo of The Varsitarian

When the buzzer rung which signaled the continuation of the match, the UST crowd felt that the championship was at their hands. “We’re getting close of the title.”

The play was for the hot shooting Karim Abdul. But the Green Archers read it well, putting a stifling defense on the UST center which gave the Cameroonian the decision to pass the ball.

With just ticks away before the end of the game, Mariano, who was holding the ball situated at the three-point area, had no choice but to take the shot. All the people inside the Arena had no words to say. The ball hit the rim though, but missed. We’re going to overtime.

In the additional minutes of the deciding Game 3, former team captain Jeric Teng made a turnaround jumper which handed UST a 69-67 upperhand with just 34 seconds remaining before the declaration of a new champion. Defense wins championships.

Just when the things came on the side of the España cagers, the Green Archers rallied back with a 5-0 run to snatch the lead, 71-69. The last nine seconds decided whether UST can win the championship or not. Abdul took the last shot, but he failed.

For the second straight year, the Tigers suffered a heartbreaking finals’ loss.

The closing moments of UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball happened a blink of an eye. Now that a new season is approaching, UST’s campaign will come through an acid test. New coach, new faces, but the champion’s heart remains in España.

The departure of Teng will be the toughest challenge for the Tigers this season. More than his contributions of 14 points per game (ppg) is the leadership that he brings inside the court. Known to be as an explosive player, the former Xavier School star lifted UST to some of their pivotal wins last season despite having an injury at the start of the first round.

Another shooting guard also bid his goodbye last year. Tata Bautista was known for his “pamatay sunog” three-pointers, not to mention that he also contributed 7.74 ppg off the bench.

Losing the championship series twice is too much. The Tigers have no choice but to win the highly-coveted championship while their lineup is still formidable this year.

What’s up for UST in Season 76?

KEY LOSSES: Jeric Teng, Clark Bautista

KEY ADDITIONS: Coach Bong Dela Cruz, Renzo Subido, Gelo Sablan

KEY RETURNESS: Louie Vigil

LEADERS: Aljon Mariano, Karim Abdul, Kevin Ferrer

His name came into shock for many, but coach Bong Dela Cruz is already geared up for the challenges this year. Can he duplicate Pido’s rookie coach championship in 2006? Despite losing the Fr. Martin Cup’s finals to Perpetual (which is under UST four-peat architect Aric Del Rosario), Dela Cruz showed his strut in mentoring a team. The decision of trimming down his lineup to just 16 men was the first challenge for him.

The guard-heavy Growling Tigers, featuring rookies Levi Dela Cruz (NU), Gelo Sablan (UPIS) and Renzo Subido (De La Salle Zobel), will play under a tactician that has likewise have similarities with Jarencio’s system.

KEY PLAYERS

ALJON MARIANO (Forward, final year)

Season 76: 11.42 ppg, 7.32 rebounds per game (rpg), 2.16 assists per game (apg)

The one who took the “what-could-have-been” game-winning shot remains the most important player this for UST.

As this year’s team captain, Mariano has the task to cheer up his team when things are not going on their way. He is also one of the main offensive weapons of UST, alongside Abdul and Kevin Ferrer.

In Season 75, Mariano carried the team to a number of come-from-behind victories and ended up with 13.29 ppg. Last season, his numbers declined due to his injury.

“Marami akong natutunan, ‘di lang sa basketball kundi sa decision-making. ‘Pag nag-take ka ng risk, ‘di moa lam kung anong mangyayari,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian last year.

“Pag panalo, masaya, ‘pag talo, matuto ka kasi mas alam mo na ang gagawin [next time].”

KARIM ABDUL (Center, FOURTH YEAR)

Season 76: 15.79 ppg, 11.16 rpg, 2.00 blocks per game (bpg)

The league’s best center will be the primary option of scoring for the Tigers.

His dominating stats could have gave him an MVP trophy, but what Abdul is concerned of is giving the Thomasian community a memorable championship at his time.

Abdul struggled at the start of the season last year but later on got his momentum when Teng got injured. He also played the heaviest minutes for UST, about 32.53 minutes per game due to lack of substitute centers. Big men Paulo Pe and Jeepy Faundo should step up when they’re needed.

Now on his fourth year, Abdul will serve as a co-captain for Mariano, with the same task of bringing their hearts to the game.

KEVIN FERRER (Forward, FOURTH YEAR)

Season 76: 12.21 ppg, 5.73 pg, 1.44 apg

The former UST high school star played an enormous role last season especially in the second round and in the semifinals against the Bobby Parks-led National University. From 6.41 ppg in Season 75, he doubled his career points and became a hero for UST last year.

Ferrer, who also played for SEA Games champion Sinag Pilipinas and PBA D-League, should join Mariano and Abdul in providing the sparks for UST. The 6’4 swingman is one of the best defensive players in the Dela Cruz’s lineup. Losing two three-pointers in Teng and Bautista will give him the chance to display his skills from downtown.

Key Returnee: LOUIE VIGIL (Third year)

The time has come for the former NCAA juniors’ MVP.

With the departure of Teng, this shooting guard will take charge of the slot that the Rain or Shine player left.

Vigil almost left UST after Season 75 but opted to stay. He was the main man for coach Dela Cruz in Fr. Martin’s Cup where UST only registered one defeat in the finals. Maturity and right decision making is what Vigil needs to become a reliable 2-guard for the team. He has the talents of becoming a star this year. 

Key Addition: RENZO SUBIDO (First year)

Point guard, 5’9, De La Salle-Zobel

The former De La Salle Zobel guard followed the footsteps of Jeric Fortuna, and he’s ready to be the chief playmaker of UST.

Is Renzo Subido the missing link for UST? Photo by Poy Autor

He is an explosive player during his time in the UAAP juniors’ basketball division with the likes of Jerie Pingoy, Prince Martin and Hubert Cani.

After point guard woes that UST experienced last season, Subido entered the scene perfectly for UST this year. His experience will definitely matter, and that depends on coach Dela Cruz whether he’ll be the starting point guard or not.

Veteran players Ed Daquioag Jamil Sheriff, Paulo Pe, Kim Lo and Kent Lao will also power UST’s campaign this year. 

With two consecutive championship losses that UST endured, I guess the redemption to glory is already due this season. Let’s get that trophy that we deserve. #GoUSTe Alexis U. Cerado


Credits to The Varsitarian for the photos. 

How 'V' gave me the best game of my college life

First of all, pasensya na kung medyo emo. Sabi nga ni Gabby [Art Director] na iniba namin ni Gels [Witness Ed], 

"Nakakatawa kung paano gawing emotional ng isang org ang di naman madramang tao"

Sobrang hirap pala iwanan ang samahang minahal mo talaga. Sa maraming aspeto, talagang iba ang Varsitarian o 'V' sa ibang samahan sa UST. Di sa binibida ko ang Varsi pero iba talaga eh :)) Siguro dahil sobrang saya ng mga tao lagi, kahit stress sa covers, extra-eds at deadlines.

I had the sweetest three years of college with V. Mula sa mga unang articles
hanggang sa pagiging writer ng matagal at pagiging Editor this summer.
It was short but sweet. Mamimiss ko ang V. 

Balik ako sa title ko. Talagang iniba ng Varsi ang buhay ko sa loob ng tatlong taon bilang Tomasino. Nangarap lang talaga akong makalibre sa UAAP kaya sumali ako sa V, specifically Sports. Ayon sinwerte naman. April 2011, simula nung buwang yun, nag-iba na ang tadhana ko sa UST.

Mula nang maging Varsi ako, bilang Sports writer syempre, marami akong natutunan sa buhay. Pumasok ako sa Varsi na di naman kagad diretso sa Sports. Scitech writer muna ako as a summer staffer. Talagang medyo masakit pero ganun talaga. Okay naman, naka-publish ng article pero sabi ko sana mag-iba pa. Ayon, napagbigyan. Nung staff announcement, narinig ko na lang pangalan ko sa Sports. Haha.

Bilang bago pa nga ako, na-culture shock ako sa unang cover ko. Ang haba ng sinulat kong breaking news sa Filoil, talo USTe ng Beda, tapos yung lumabas online, dalawang paragraphs lang natira partida kasama na lead. Kawawa ako haha. Medyo napaisip ako dun kung para ba talaga sakin ang Sports. Dun ako nachallenge kung paano pa gagalingan as sports writer.

Tanda ko rin ang unang UAAP cover ko, kasama si Ate Melai (Sports Ed, 2011-2012) at Ate Josa (Photog, naging crush haha). Muntik pa manalo ang NU sa UST, first game ng UAAP. Buti na lang magaling si Fortuna. Panalo UST ng 1 or 2 pts haha. Dun ako mas lalong naexcite maging Varsi, at sa thrill ng UAAP.

Some of my press IDs as a Varsitarian staffer. The
opportunity of having the best seat in the arena
to watch and feel the game, and  of course, write the story.

Dito ko rin sa Varsi unang nasubukang mag out-of-town cover, yun nga lang, unang cover, solo flight. August 2011. Walang photog. SM Batangas, chess. Mag-isang nagcommute. Sa tulong ng pagtatanong-tanong, nakarating naman sa paroroonan. Sa una nahihiya, pero dahil mabait si coach Ronald ng UST Woodpushers, linibre ako sa Mcdo tapos hatid pa pauwi sa kotse niya. Dun ko rin na-enjoy makisalumuha sa mga UST athletes. Marami rin akong naging kaibigang chess players.

September 2011, na-assign ako sa isa sa major cover ko sa Varsi. UPLB - UAAP swimming kasama si Ate Melai and Ate Josa. Siyempre bilang ako lang ang bago at lalaki, nahiya talaga ako. Pero dun ko mas naramdaman kung gaano ako kamahal ng mga taga-V. Dito ko rin nasubukang maging independent lol. Siyempre marami kaming ginawa sa LB pero amin-amin na lang yun haha.

Midyear planning 2011 sa Batanags, mas dun ko naramdaman na welcome ako sa V. Dun ko rin mas lalong naging close sila Ate Melai, Ate Paeng, Doms, Gab at Hirro. Sa panahong din yun mas lalo kong nadiscover ang hidden skills ko sa pagpapatawa.

Sports + Photogs after Game 1 of UAAP Season 76
men's basketball finals  between UST and DLSU
at the Araneta Coliseum.

Sa Varsi ko rin natutunan maging responsableng tao. Maliban sa mga deadlines ay nagu-organize din ang V ng 3 extra eds bawat taon. Mas maaappreciate mo at mas makikilala mo ang bawat ka-V mo sa mga panahon ng ngaragan at stress.

Sobrang privileged ako na maging parte ng Sports Team ng V for three years. Unang una, marami akong natutunang sports at talagang mas nahasa ako magsulat ng Sports. In just a matter of five or six months after ko maging part ng Sports, kita ko na kung paano ako binago ng V bilang school journalist, sa sulat man pati sa ugali.  Tanda ko pa ang first byline ko, Tagalog issue haha. Talagang kinilig ako. Makita mo ba naman ang pangalan mo sa Varsi na 20,000 copies linalabas eh. Dun ako mas lalong nagsikap para every issue, magkabyline. 

Siyempre sa una, mahirap talaga i-juggle ang demands ng V at pagiging Pharma student. Halos weekends ko, may 2-3 covers ako. Mahirap pero masaya, lalo na kung gusto mo ang ginagawa mo. Mas marami rin akong nakilala at nakasalamuhang tao, UST athletes man, alumni at lalo na ang mga present UST students na kasabay kong nag-cheer ng #GoUSTe sa UAAP games.

LB covers. Left w/ Ate Josa and Ate Melai on my first year (2011)
and right photo is with Poy, Jenz and Paul on my third year (2013)
 in V.  Isa to sa pinakamasayang experience ko sa Varsi.

Sa lahat ng covers ko (kung umabot man ng isandaan), ang UAAP swimming cover nung September 2013 ang pinakamasaya kasama sina Poy, Jenz at Paul. Yun na yata ang pinaka-yolo na cover. Laro laro lang, kain-kain pero syempre di naman namin kinalimutan ang responsibilities namin. Ang ganda talaga sa UPLB. Ang sarap sa Katsudon at talagang may feels ang Searca hotel. Sana after two or three years, balik tayo dun. tayong apat. Tapos yolo lang haha. Gawin mga ginawa natin dati. Haha.

Utang na loob ko sa V kaya umabot ng 1K ang followers ko sa Twitter (haha ang babaw sorry). Siyempre, bilang sports writer ka sa Varsi, kailangan marami kang updates sa UAAP. Marami akong nakausap at nakatawanan na kahit di ko man nameet personally, parang kakilala ko na rin. Sabay-sabay tayo sa Twitter nag-cheer para sa UST, nagpalakas ng loob sa mga oras na mababa morale ng UST teams, umasa, nasaktan, umiyak at higit sa lahat, naniwala sa kakayahan ng mga atletang Tomasino.

V also gave me the chance to experience a lot of things na mas malalim pa sa libreng upuan sa Araneta Coliseum o MOA Arena. Magmula sa UAAP covers na minsan ko lang naman pinangarap, makausap personally ang mga atletang Tomasino na talagang pinipilahan, mag-fanboy dahil may perks ka after the game at magsulat ng mga kakaibang stories/features sa billiards, drag racing, wushu, flag football at Ultimate frisbee.


Mamimiss ko rin ang mga staff developments ng V. Andyan yung retreat sa Caleruega kung saan ako mas napalapit sa Diyos (Yiee), ang midyear plannings na exciting, at syempre ang Caylabe/White Corrals na kung saan nagkakatampuhan at nagkakainisan ang tao a week before the tribe wars, tapos in the end, magbabati bati rin naman haha. Mga abnormal talaga tao sa V haha. Mas mararamdaman mo ang teamwork ng bawat tribe, syempre ibida ko na ang Gothic. Three years in the making bago maging champion! 2014 Tribe Wars champion haha.

Marami ring pakain sa V na mamimiss ko. Siyempre sa mga extra eds, christmas party, Valik Varsi (na maswerte akong naging parte ng organizing staff), Ustetika delibs night na nakumpleto ko haha, Testi dinners at kung anu-ano pa.

Thankful ako sa Varsi na kahit sa last two months ng stay ko, pinagkatiwalaan akong maging Sports Editor. Maswerte ako na mas nakilala ko ang mga kasama ko dati, sina Arar, Waitfort at Paul, at kahit si Ced at siyempre Delfin na talagang nakita ko ang sarili ko dahil three years pa siya sa V.

Sa lahat ng bagay, ang pinakamamimiss ko ay ang unlimited tawanan at asaran sa Varsi. Yung random na may magpapatawa, manggagago kapag malungkot ang office at sobrang dragging na pagkain sa Dapitan. (Dragging dahil kapag nag-aaya ka, magaantay ka pa una sa work area, sunod sa SA desk, tapos sa labas ng pinto ng Varsi tapos sa labas ng TYK. Kawawa talaga). Di ko alam kong paano nagagawang maging masayahin ng mga tao sa Varsi sa kabila ng pressure sa Acads at V.

More than the perks of being a V staffer are
ever lasting friendships that were formed in V.
I guess I'm lucky enough to find my five
closest people in college thru V. Hirro, Gab, Ate Paeng, Doms
and Ate Melai. (Photos from Valik Varsi 2013
and Caleruega 2012)

Dito mo sa V mahahanap ang mga tunay na kaibigan sa college, yung di ka iiwanan at kahit graduate na, parang pareho pa rin kapag magkikita-kita kayo.

I had my closest friends in college sa V, si Ate Melai na pinagalitan ako nung Pautakan pero sobrang mahal kong Sports Ed. Di siguro ako matututo magsulat ng sports kundi dahil sa kanya. Si Ate Paeng
na inakala kong maarte dati at takot ako pero sobrang saya talaga kasama sa inuman at kung saan saan pa. Namimiss ko na tawa niya at gilagid niya. Naalala mo ba nung naghanap ako ng tempura sa Tapsi? Eh yung sinakal kita sa Caylabne kasabay ang katagang "Let the hunger games begin" haha. Siyempre si Doms, Hirro at Gabby na talagang naging sandalan ko na sa lahat ng oras. I will always cherish every moment with these people.

Andyan din siyempre ang mga Amihan na tinuturing kong parang kapatid ko na rin. Ate Chenny of course. Sila Shawin, Jaime, Bong, JT at syempre, si JanB na naging editor ko rin. Masaya rin akong mas nakilala sila Poy, Andrei, Gelyn, Jenz, Kute, Keno, Jonx, Red, Jonnie, Badet, Nigel, Enzo, Mars, Pip
and siyempre Patty na lagi kong kasama sa mga kagaguhan at pagkasabog.

Throughout the years, itong tribe na to ang nakasama ko. We endured two years of
bashing as third placer until last May 6-9 when we finally copped the Tribe Wars
championship. I love you Gothic. #Katuparan2014

Para kina Ar ar, Waitfort, Paul, Ced and Delfs, Wala na siguro akong maiiwanang reminder senyo kundi alagaan niyo ang Sports. I will miss that desk. Daming memories dyan. Tiwala ako sa inyo. You will always be my brothers.

Mamimiss ko talaga ang V. Sa totoo lang, di ko pa rin alam kung paano mag-move on. Masyadong masakit ang three years. Pero sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa V kung paano niya iniba ang buhay ko. Baka di naging fulfilling ang college life ko kundi dahil sa Varsi. Marami akong natutunang lessons sa buhay nang dahil sa V. Ganito pala talaga ang feeling ng maging Amihan, para ka lang lumulutang sa hangin pero dala ang sakit. For sure may tamang oras para maka-move on tayo, lahat naman siguro nagdaan sa ganito.

Basta V, tandaan mo, saan man ako magpunta, talagang may malaking parte ka sa puso ko. 

Now, it's time to hang my jersey. Time to complete my final home run. The game is over, so as V. It's time to move on.

Once A V Staffer, always a V staffer.


Yours truly, 

Alex Cerado
BS Pharmacy 2014
The Varsitarian
Sports Editor (Summer 2014)
Sports writer (2011-2014)
University of Santo Tomas

Former Tribe Wars MVP wahaha

Signing off.