Nic Cabañero could only lament how far University of Santo Tomas has fallen in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Growling Tigers are currently enduring a 0-6 losing streak this season. When factoring in their losses from Season 85, they are currently on a 0-19 slump.
This was certainly not what Cabañero and the rest of the UST community expected for this season when Pido Jarencio replaced Bal David and brought along some of his ‘Superfriends.’
“Siyempre, masakit kasi kasama ako dun eh. Yung mga players dun, yung mga teammates ko dun, kasama din. Mga last year din, from my first year until sa third year ko ngayon,” said the former San Beda Red Cub. “Sobrang nasasaktan ako personally kasi super mahal ko yung UST. Diyan ako nag-graduate ng senior high school.
“Hopefully rin, gusto ko maka-leave ng legacy sa school kahit papano, together with my teammates. Kasi ang goal ko lang naman talaga is manalo eh,” he continued.
“I think lahat naman ng teams ganun din ang goal. I think kailangan lang talaga namin mas magtrabaho pa, tiwala sa sistema, at tiwala kami sa isa’t isa.”
The Growling Tigers’ losses have triggered strong reactions on social media. It’s also evident that the attendance at their games has fallen behind other teams.
While UST is trying its best to keep games close against their opponents, the opposition tends to pull away in the end with a significant margin.
The Growling Tigers have been losing games by an average of 16 points. It’s never easy to be blown out, and the malaise points to something deeper.
“Ang masasabi ko talaga ay may kanya-kanya kaming mga personal na attitude na instead na lalaban kami,” said Cabañero.
“For example, kapag tumatakbo yung (opposing) team, bumababa yung morale namin, which is pangit talaga kasi hindi pa tapos ang laro. Dapat i-lift up namin yung isa’t isa para tulungan kami para mag-connive pa kami sa laro.”
There are still eight more games for Cabañero and his teammates to salvage something from this season.
Jarencio joked before the campaign that one win was his team’s goal, and another one would be a bonus, but no one is laughing now.
Going 19 straight games without a win is no joke. There needs to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Of course, every game, ni-re-review ko naman yung sarili ko: my mistakes at kung ano rin yung tama kong ginawa,” he said. “Ibibigay ko pa rin yung best ko hangga’t sa makakaya ko. Kanina nga, na-sprain ang ankle ko, pero malayo naman sa bituka yun, so kaya ko pa rin.
“Para sa UST, para sa team ko, gagawin ko yung lahat. Alam ko naman din yung mga teammates ko, coaches, at management, malaki ang tiwala sa akin.”
