University of Santo Tomas and National University have faced off in the Finals of the last three UAAP women’s basketball tournaments, establishing one of the division’s fiercest rivalries in recent years.
The Growling Tigresses captured the titles in Seasons 86 and 88, while the Lady Bulldogs claimed the Season 87 crown.
The rivalry extends to the high school girls’ division, where the two programs have contested both Finals series since the tournament’s return in Season 87, with the Junior Growling Tigresses winning both championships.
The two schools have also battled for supremacy in the women’s and girls’ 3×3 tournaments.
However, despite the numerous games and championships contested between the two sides, UST head coach Arsenio Dysangco believes basketball is about more than winning or losing.
Dysangco shared his perspective following a postgame incident during the customary handshake line last Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, which marred the Growling Tigresses’ 90-66 victory over the Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament.
Speaking on the matter Wednesday after UST’s 88-42 win over Far Eastern University, Dysangco said he would not pursue legal action over the incident involving NU assistant coach Paul Du. His counterpart had forcefully elbowed him during the handshake line, causing Dysangco to fall to the ground and require medical attention.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“No, I’m not. I don’t wanna file any charges. I’ll trust the UAAP kung ano ‘yung steps na gagawin,” he said.
“I’m sure the UAAP has reviewed all the videos and all the circumstances doon sa case kaya I trust na, lalo na ‘yung mga precedents, and I’m sure they’re gonna make a good decision regarding this. I trust them.”
On Monday, the league suspended Du from all basketball-related activities for the remainder of Season 89, covering both 5-on-5 and 3×3 competitions across all divisions.
Rather than dwell on the incident, Dysangco used it as an opportunity to impart a lesson to his players about sportsmanship and personal growth.
“Actually, it was a teaching opportunity for the players, so we took that opportunity to teach them that basketball is not really about winning or losing. It’s about what you become sa journey mo na ‘yun, and that is going to be very very important,” Dysangco said of his message to the Tigresses after the incident.
Dysangco and Du were teammates at Uno High School during their playing days in the late 1980s. However, the UST coach admitted that the two had not seen eye to eye in recent seasons.
Dysangco currently leads UST’s high school girls’ basketball program, while Du serves as an assistant coach for NU’s high school team under head coach Ai Lebornio.
“Nagulat siyempre ano? I think kahit sino naman ‘no will be surprised,” Dysangco recalled.
“Although ilang season na rin kaming hindi talaga nagkakamayan for which I don’t know why. Pero ayun nga, umiiwas ako, but I was really surprised na bakit naging physical.”
