Will history repeat itself this UAAP Season 87 collegiate men’s basketball Final Four?
This is the question as University of Santo Tomas once again battles the twice-to-beat University of the Philippines in the semifinals, just like in Season 82.
This year, the Growling Tigers returned to the Final Four after five years with their 75-49 win over the Adamson Soaring Falcons, clinching the third seed Saturday evening at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The last time they advanced past the elimination round was in Season 82, where they went all the way to the Finals but lost to the undefeated Ateneo Blue Eagles.
As the third seed, UST will face off against no. 2 UP.
In 2019, the semifinals became a stepladder format after Ateneo swept the eliminations. The Tigers clawed their way from the fourth spot to the Finals after beating Far Eastern University in the first phase.
They then stunned UP twice in the second phase, highlighted by Renzo Subido’s game-winning triple in Game 2.
While the stars seem aligned for UST to repeat history, head coach Pido Jarencio wants to write a new story.
“Actually, hindi naman ako ang coach doon (Aldin Ayo). Tapos that was 2019, that was the Renzo Subido three-point winning shot,” said Jarencio when the similarities were pointed out.
“Gawa tayo ng bagong storya. Kami naman ang gagawa ng bagong storya. Tingnan natin. Kanya-kanyang storya yan eh, ito panahon namin ito ang storya gawa kami,” he continued.
The champion coach also noted that this will be a different breed of Fighting Maroons, tested by time.
UP’s success in the post-pandemic era has been phenomenal, capturing the Season 84 crown before finishing as runners-up in Seasons 85 and 86.
The Fighting Maroons have had many rising stars this season, led by graduating players JD Cagulangan and Quentin Millora-Brown, plus team stalwarts Francis Lopez and Harold Alarcon.
“Iba ang players noon, iba ang players ngayon. Medyo mas matibay ang players ng UP pero ako naman kumpyansa naman ako dito sa mga players ko,” said Jarencio.
“Nung second round, medyo nag-struggle kami, puro talo. Akala ko made in Taiwan lang ang mga players ko, eh nagpapanalo na kami, ‘Ahh made in USA pala, matibay din’.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST players, on the other hand, are all strangers to the post-season. The exception is Forthsky Padrigao, who was a vital player during Ateneo’s title run in Season 85.
Regardless of their chances against UP, Jarencio knows that his team will give their all in the Final Four.
“Parang David and Goliath yan, magandang labanan. Basta kami laban lang kami, basta kami prepara kami, yung mga players importante healthy kami lahat,” he said.
“Basta kami preparasyon na kami para sa playoffs against UP. Twice-to-beat sila, malay mo, di ba? Bilog ang bola, may tsansa. Basta dito lang kami sa baba, nasa lupa lang kami, tingnan natin, pagtrabahuhan lang namin lahat.”
#WATCH: PUSO. PRIDE. PALABAN. 💛🐯
Coach Pido Jarencio and the Growling Tigers are back in the Final Four! 🏀
📹 @ErnestTuazon/ Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/rSsoA0A5VU
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) November 16, 2024
