THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas faithful didn’t have to wait long for redemption as the Growling Tigers immediately made amends for their earlier loss to the University of the Philippines.
Squaring off against La Salle on Wednesday evening, the Pido Jarencio-led squad displayed better composure especially in the fourth quarter, where UST saw it’s 72-63 lead evaporate after an 11-2 run halfway through.
Plenty of Tigers stepped up, including Amiel Acido, Collins Akowe, and one-and-done Landyn Jumawan, but ultimately, it was the sour taste of their opener loss which pushed them over the line this time.
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“Basta kami we work as a team, as a one unit, malakas kami,” Jarencio said after their 80-75 triump over the Archers. “Pero pag naging individualistic kami, kanya-kanya walang mayari sa team namin.”
“Lesson learned, yan na talo kami against UP. Wake up call kaagad yan. That's a good wake up call for us kasi first game talo kaagad para magising lahat.”
Similar demons haunted UST In the opener, where they lost a lead that grew by as many as nine points.
Though their previous loss was a result of a dry spell that ensued a quarter earlier than this one, Jarencio was grateful that the squad managed to outgrow their tendencies which doomed them the last time out.
“Kami, team effort kami. Coaches, players, management. Mga supporters namin na andyan, tumutulong, mga coaches, I commend our coaches kasi hinimay nila. Talagang nag-scout ng husto, bawat player, opposing team," he said.
“At saka actually, walang pressure sa amin. Sa amin lalaro lang kami. Marami lang nagsasabi malakas ang team namin, di naman malakas ang team namin. Kahit papano tinalo lang namin La Salle. Pero hindi kami malakas."
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