AFTER five years, University of Santo Tomas is back in the UAAP men’s basketball Final Four.

It was a tumultuous era for the Growling Tigers after their most recent appearance in 2019, when the España-based side went all the way to the Finals.

There was the controversial Sorsogon bubble training in the early days of the pandemic that forced to rebuild the men’s basketball program, a couple of coaching changes and a forgettable one-win campaign under coach Bal David two years ago.

Coach Pido Jarencio, who steered UST to its 18th and most recent championship in 2006, then made a return last year. He had 2-12 record last season, as the Growling Tigers missed the Final Four for the third consecutive time.

With transferees Forthsky Padrigao, who won a title for Ateneo in 2022, and Kyle Paranada, and Malian slotman Mo Tounkara to back up Nic Cabañero, who endured three frustrating seasons, things look bright for UST.

The Growling Tigers had a solid first round, finishing in fourth place with a 4-3 record, highlighted by ending a nine-year, 17-game losing streak against the Blue Eagles.

Then came the second round struggles, as UST fell short of pulling off a reversal of defending champion La Salle in overtime, losing to Ateneo in a rare “home game” at the Quadricentennial

Pavilion Arena, and a disappointing setback to a National University side simply hoping to reach the finish line.

Fortunately for the Growling Tigers, they were able to remain in the Final Four range and eventually seal the No. 3 ranking.

UST came through with back-to-back victories against University of the East, which was able to hang on in the third spot despite the second round skid, and Adamson, which was making a one final push to the Final Four after mid-season slump.

The long and agonizing wait has ended, as the Growling Tigers roared back to the Final Four after routing the Falcons, 75-49, on Saturday night at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, becoming the first team since the 1998 Red Warriors squad to finish third in the eliminations with a 7-7 record.

“Super blessed. Happy ako with the guidance of coaches and management. Sobrang natutuwa ako even though I’m struggling in the first half they continue to cheer me up. Thank you sa UST community ginagawa ko talaga lahat, I stayed for three years. Meron pa akong one year next year,” said Cabañero.

The job is not yet done for the Growling Tigers.

UST will face No. 2 University of the Philippines, in the Final Four in two weeks time.

It will be the first semifinals meeting between the Growling Tigers and the Fighting Maroons since 2019.

During that year, the semis became a stepladder format after the Blue Eagles went 14-0 in the eliminations.

Then handled by Aldin Ayo, UST clawed its way from No. 4 to the Finals after beating Far Eastern University in the knockout game, then overturning UP’s twice-to-beat advantage, highlighted by Renzo Subido’s game-winning triple in the decider.

As the Growling Tigers will enter the Final Four as underdogs, Jarencio wants to write a new story.

“Actually, hindi naman ako ang coach doon, tapos that was 2019, that was the Renzo Subido three-point winning shot,” said Jarencio when the similarities were pointed out.

“Gawa tayo ng bagong storya. Kami naman ang gagawa ng bagong storya. Tingnan natin. Kanya-kanyang storya yan eh, ito panahon namin ito ang storya gawa kami,” he added.

Jarencio is no stranger this this kind of situations for the Growling Tigers.

In Jarencio’s collegiate coaching debut in 2006, UST ended the elims with an even 6-6 record, had to beat Adamson in a playoff for No. 3 and 4 ranking, and stunned twice-to-beat UE in the Final Four to reach the league’s biggest stage.

The Growling Tigers then defeated the much-favored Blue Eagles, winning in overtime in Game 3, to end a 10-year title drought.

It has been 18 years since UST last reached on top and the Growling Tigers journey to reclaim the throne will go against the fancied Fighting Maroons.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado