UST coach Pido Jarencio celebrates after Growling Tigers seal their return to the Remaining 4 within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball event. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines—College of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio is concentrated on writing a brand new narrative for the Growling Tigers within the upcoming UAAP Season 87 Remaining 4.
Following a third-seed clinching win over Adamson, 75-49, at San Juan Area on Saturday night time, Jarencio reveled within the Tigers’ accomplishment of reaching the playoffs for the primary time since 2019.
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5 years is a very long time and whereas it’s good to reminisce over the times of outdated, Jarencio stated it’s time for them to construct a narrative of their very own, utterly totally different from the UST underdog story of 2019.
READ: UAAP: UST Tigers–now not sporting buzz cuts–are buzzing
“I wasn’t the coach then, these moments in 2019 had Renzo Subido’s three-point profitable shot. Gawa tayo ng bagong istorya (Let’s make a brand new story),” stated Jarencio.
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“We’ll be those making a brand new story and we’ll see. That is our second so we’ll make our personal story. We have now totally different gamers now, UP have stronger gamers now however for me, I’m assured with my gamers.”
UST Growling Tigers within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball event sport towards Adamson Falcons. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
The league has modified drastically 5 years post-Season 82 when UST, which was then below coach Aldin Ayo, however one factor remained constant: the Combating Maroons have continually been contenders till now.
The Growling Tigers, then again, confronted adversities extra occasions than two arms can rely.
READ: UAAP: ‘Do-or-die’ strategy has UST profitable once more
Two years after the previous Northport mentor reclaimed the teaching put up in España, UST lastly returned to the playoffs on a extra aggressive stage, the place even Jarencio himself feels pressured.
“I’m pressured myself as a result of my final Remaining 4 was in 2013. I believed this can be the possibility to return… Earlier than, I slept for simply 5 hours. Final night time, I slept for 10,” stated Jarencio in jest.
In 2019, UST had perennial MVP and Rookie of the 12 months contenders in Soulemane Chabi-Yo and Mark Nonoy, respectively.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
In 2024, the Growling Tigers put extra emphasis on group play moderately than hero ball, giving spotlights to nearly everybody within the lineup.
Whereas circumstances could differ, one factor stayed the identical. UP will nonetheless have a twice-to-beat benefit over UST come the Remaining 4.
In 2019, UST subdued their drawback and UP to match. In 2024, Jarencio hopes to do it once more in a “David and Goliath” setting.
“This can be a good stepping stone for us. We’re beginning now, we simply should persevere as a result of our objective is to be right here within the playoffs so we’ll go to work straight away and make a sport plan on learn how to beat UP,” Jarencio stated.
“It’ll be like David and Goliath, it’ll be an excellent struggle.”