UST coach Pido Jarencio celebrates after Growling Tigers seal their return to the Closing 4 within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball event. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
With College of Santo Tomas copping a Closing 4 spot within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball event after a five-year wait on Saturday evening, the dialog rapidly turned to how the Growling Tigers fared the final time they fared previous the eliminations.
Below coach Aldin Ayo in Season 82, the Tigers have been coming off two forgettable years earlier than a bunch led by Mark Nonoy and CJ Cansino had Santo Tomas making the Finals through the again door.
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They might fall to mighty Ateneo within the title collection earlier than this system crumbled due to the controversial “Sorsogon bubble” the place Ayo continued coaching his expenses even through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick ahead to the current day and the Tigers efficiently returned to the semifinals below the mercurial Pido Jarencio, as Santo Tomas delivered in its largest problem of the season by downing Adamson, 75-49.
Securing No. 3 seed signifies that the Tigers cast a playdate with second-ranked College of the Philippines, a troublesome nut to crack to start with because the Preventing Maroons have all of the championship expertise going for them—to not point out being protected by a twice-to-beat armor.
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However that additionally opened the likelihood for Jarencio to repeat historical past like in 2019, when the Tigers one way or the other defeated the Maroons two consecutive instances to get a shot on the crown.
Or perhaps he has one thing higher in thoughts.
“Let’s make a brand new story,” Jarencio stated in Filipino after he additionally returned to the playoffs for the primary time since 2013. “We’re those now who will make a brand new story. Let’s see.
“Everybody has a special story,” he went on. “That is our time, that is the story, we’ll make our personal.”
In comparison with Santo Tomas, UP has veteran cogs similar to Terrence Fortea, JD Cagulangan, Harold Alarcon and Gerry Abadiano amongst others who’ve been a part of a historic championship in Season 84.
The Tigers have nobody however playmaker Forthsky Padrigao with championship—and even Closing 4—expertise.
Expertise of 1
Padrigao received one with Ateneo two seasons in the past earlier than transferring. Longtime stalwarts similar to Christian Manaytay, Nic Cabañero and Migs Pangilinan will see playoff motion for the primary time.
Jarencio has repeatedly acknowledged how large a task his flooring normal, Padrigao, performs. And the baby-faced guard is as much as the duty of enjoying even larger.
“It is a acquainted territory [for me] and I do know that our video games will solely get more durable to any extent further,” Padrigao stated. “All of our remaining video games might be a do-or-die. We’re actually completely satisfied, however after only a day or two of relaxation, we might be going through UP once more.”
Although the Maroons swept their season matchups towards Santo Tomas, one was very shut with the opposite having the Tigers blow away management late.
“The gamers are completely different then and now. UP has more durable gamers [but] I’m assured in my gamers,” Jarencio, who was the final mentor to present UST a championship in 2006, stated.
“It is a good stepping stone. We are going to go to work and make a recreation plan on the right way to defeat UP—it’s like David and Goliath. This might be battle,” Jarencio stated. INQ
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