The morale of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers has hit rock bottom.
After defeating the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons 83-77 last September 17, the season-hosts have now lost five straight games by an average of 12.75 points per game.
The effects of the 27-point pounding the team received against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons were clearly seen Saturday afternoon in their game against the University of the East Red Warriors. UST committed 32 turnovers in the game and missed a nightmarish 16 freebies, resulting in their fifth straight loss.
“32 turnovers. 16 missed free throws. ‘Yun na ‘yung storya,” UST head coach Boy Sablan said.
Sablan, who was tapped as the team’s mentor last June, is known for his unorthodox methods of motivating his players.
“Last Thursday, hindi kami nag-practice. Tatlong oras na pag-uusap lang,” he shared about what he and the team did after their loss against Adamson. “Akala ko magagamot namin yung mental woes namin.”
But lightning did not strike twice for Sablan. And right now, he, just like the team, is now at a loss for words with the scant fight the team is showing on the UAAP stage.
“Hindi ko na alam. Nag-prepare naman kami. Ginagawa lahat sa practice pero sa game hindi na magawa,” he lamented.
“Ito na yung worst na nangyari.”
“Nakita na ng mag kalaban namin na wala talaga akong [star] players. Lahat ito puro bench. Hindi ‘to naglaro ng malaki last year. Now they’re playing heavy minutes,” he admitted.
“So what do you expect?”
For Sablan, the only remedy for what is happening to the team is to fix their psyche.
“Baka kailangan pa bugbugin ng mental,” he said. “Yung preparation kumpleto naman. Nandun na lahat. Wala naman kulang.”
“Minsan wala na akong mabunot. kumukuha na lang ako kung sino ang pupuwede. Kumbaga, kung wala kang extra na pera, pagkasyahin mo kung anong mayroon ka.”
“Ito yung mga second-stringer na nagkaroon ng bigger responsibility ngayon. Yung prepartion namin three months lang, ito na nangyari. Sobrang iksi na hindi namin makuha ang chemistry,” he added.
But even with this predicament, he reaffirmed that they are still fighting for UST.
“Pero kahit ganun pa man, yung pride at puso natin sa UST, ilaban natin yun,” he promised.
