For fans of the English Premier League, the rise of Leicester City to the top of the league table has been nothing short of phenomenal. From surviving relegation the previous year to defeating top teams such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, to say the story of Leicester City has been incredible is an understatement.
In terms of the UAAP Season 78 Men’s Football Tournament, though, there is one team that is threatening to write a similar tale to that of Leicester City. That team in question is the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.
UST this Season 78 have been nothing short of impressive. The Growling Tigers have defeated the likes of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, Ateneo Blue Eagles, defending champions Far Eastern University Tamaraws and National University Bulldogs in the first elimination round.
Just last March 13, 2016 (Sunday), the Growling Tigers snatched a point at the 88th minute of the match against a rampant Fighting Maroons side despite being down 0-2 at halftime then 2-3 with twenty minutes left to go. It has just simply been a spectacular ride for UST after their Season 77 debacle where they finished at sixth place.
Perhaps the chief architect of the Growling Tigers’ magnificent run this season has been their head coach Marjo Allado. “Kasi before pa lang mag-start ang UAAP, they’re asking about UST eh. Sabi ko naman as a coach may kumpyansa naman ako. May tiwala ako na magperperform ang mga players eh. Yun lang, sana walang masyadong injuries at suspensions”, Allado shared.
After the UST’s latest game against UP, Allado was visibly relieved with how his side earned the draw when all seemed lost. That fixture was also the first time another team scored before the Growling Tigers and Allado felt that his team was very much used to winning by that point of the season. Allado added, “Yung nakikita ko sa players is the moment yung UP nag-score sa amin, hindi sila pumapayag. They tried their best na bumalik sa game, ma-level and then try na manalo.”
One thing that can be inferred about this current batch of Growling Tigers is that there mentality has a mixture of fear and confidence. One ingredient over the other could prove fatal to UST and Allado is grateful that there is a balance between the two for his players. “Well for me yung eight games na walang talo, yung nakikita ko sa players is yung nagbibuild up dito sa sarili nila ngayon is yung confidence eh. Parang takot lang sila matalo eh. Takot sila matalo ngayon eh. We keep on putting pressure to the other teams. I have to congratulate my players na kahit may injury na yung iba pero stand up and don’t give up, don’t give me a no.”
UST Men’s football team
Allado believes that UST is holistically different this season compared to last season. “Siguro kasi last year kinakapos kami eh. Yung spirit na gusto lumaban, gusto manalo, nandiyan na unlike the past time na pag na-goalan kami parang ok lang.” However, Allado felt that it’s not only the attitude itself of the players which improved but also the composition of the squad. “Well yung team namin ngayon medyo kumpleto lang. Deep bench ng kaunti kahit papano. When it comes to experience, yung liga na sinalihan namin nung pre-season nakatulong dito. Kung titignan mo, yung mga young players they perform eh. At the same time, iba-ibang players ang goalscorers eh. Balance lang muna ngayon”, explained Allado.
Last season’s poor showing has also been a motivation for the Growling Tigers. That same motivation has added to the Growling Tigers’ reluctance to give up no matter how tough the going gets. “Gusto nila patunayan ngayon, as much as possible, kung pwedeng manalo kahit 1-0 lang. Kahit 1-0 lang naman yung target ok lang kami. Parang push lang. Hindi kayo pwede mag-give in kasi nandito na tayo. Sayang yung foundation natin. Parang pag bumigay tayo, sayang yung points natin. Sabi namin tuloy-tuloy lang kasi after the game you are happy about the result eh”, Allado explained.
Despite the Growling Tigers’ great run, Allado knows that there is still a long way to go. He confessed that draws against top teams would do for him and elaborated that he sets his team up based on the standings and opposition.”Hindi pwede pukpok ka lang ng pukpok. Baka mamaya vulnerable na kami sa mga atake.”
With UST at the top of the current standing with 18 points, the target of a modest Final Four finish has been adjusted to a first Finals appearance in five seasons. “Right now yun yung target talaga eh, pumasok sa championship (match) kasi medyo yung last namin na finals is yung three straight years tapos bridesmaid kami. Now it’s the next generation so sana umabot”, said Allado.
There is still a long way to go before the championship match. UST still has to secure a Final Four slot and defeat whoever they come up against in the post-season. Nevertheless, UAAP football fans should be excited with the Growling Tigers as they are proving to be the underdogs Filipino sports fans love. In the end, though, perhaps that underdog tag of UST should be dropped and maybe the term “title contenders” should be used. Then again, Allado and the rest of the Growling Tigers will still retain that fighting spirit no matter what.
