The University of Santo Tomas finally regained its winning form after suffering three straight defeats at the start of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball second round.
The Growling Tigers defeated the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 79-70, on Sunday evening, holding onto the fourth spot in the standings amid a tightly packed middle field.
As expected, UST head coach Pido Jarencio expressed his gratitude to the team’s supporters and boosters in the postgame interview as UST continues its bid to reach the Final Four, a stage they’ve missed in the last three seasons.
He then addressed those who criticized him during UST’s rough patch, which the team managed to end with this victory.
“Basta kami, ang iniisip namin ‘yung last four games, do-or-die games na ang mindset namin. Kaya yung mga bata, they really worked hard para manalo lang today. At saka para sa ano ito eh, management which is yung UST, mga kaparian na dire-diretso ang suporta sa amin, mga sponsors namin, si Boss Al (Chua) nandiyan sumusuporta,” Jarencio said.
“Ang regret ko lang is yung ano eh, yung mga true fans namin na nandiyan, na UST fans na manalo, matalo nandiyan. Kokonti sila ngayon kasi puro kami talo eh, pagka nanalo nandiyan sila lahat,” he continued.
“Ang dami kong basher, I love you all, mamatay na kayong lahat.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
With the win, UST improved to 5-6, now a game and a half ahead of the three teams tied below them at 3-7: FEU, Ateneo de Manila University, and Adamson University.
During UST’s three-game slump, social media was abuzz with criticism of Jarencio’s coaching, and some even suggested the possibility of assistant coach Juno Sauler taking over for the well-loved UST mentor.
UST strengthened its coaching staff in the offseason with the additions of Sauler and Peter Martin, aiming to add depth and firepower to the team.
Now that UST is back on track, Jarencio pledged that his team — which he proudly calls his own — will fight with all their might to return to the Final Four, a level they last reached in Season 82, where the Aldin Ayo-led Tigers made it to the Finals.
“Basta kami laban, laro lang kami, itong team na ito laban lang ito. Sa mga fans namin na tunay, manood kayo. Kung hindi kayo tunay, okay lang kahit limang libo lang yung nanonood sa amin ngayon, okay lang kami roon,” said Jarencio, the architect behind UST’s last men’s basketball championship in Season 69 (2006).
