HEAD COACH: Pido Jarencio (second season)
LAST SEASON: 2-12 (8th)
HOLDOVERS: Nic Cabañero, Christian Manaytay, Migs Pangilinan, Gelo Crisostomo, Echo Laure
SUBTRACTIONS: Adama Faye, Ivan Lazarte, Paul Manalang, Kenji Duremdes, SJ Moore
ADDITIONS: Amiel Acido, Forthsky Padrigao (Ateneo), Kyle Paranada (UE), Geremy Robinson (La Salle), Leland Estacio (West Valley CA), Ice Danting (Ateneo), Chase Lane (Claflin SC), Mo Tounkara
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UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas called on its most recent champion coach to turn the tide back in their favor.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen at all in UAAP Season 86, as the Growling Tigers went 2-12 in Pido Jarencio's first year back as shot-caller.
That means that in the last three seasons, the black and gold only has six wins to show out of 42 games.
The big wave is on the horizon, however. In fact, it's coming in Season 87.
"Yung last year na team, halos 'di naman ako ang nagbuo nun. Hindi katulad this year na ako talaga ang nagbuo; yung mga player na nag-residency, ni-recruit namin, lalaro na sila this year," Jarencio told SPIN.ph.
"Tapos medyo mahaba naman yung preparation. Nagkaroon na rin ng chemistry, maganda ang bonding ng players, so more prepared na kami ngayon."
Jarencio, who delivered the proud program's last title way back in 2006, returned to the helm a season ago still relying on Nic Cabañero, Christian Manaytay, Paul Manalang, and Senegalese foreign student-athlete (FSA) Adama Faye - holdovers from UST's lineups under ex-mentors Jinino Manansala and then Bal David.
He wasted no time instilling his famed 'Puso. Pride. Palaban.,' of course, but it was ultimately all for naught as they wound up dead last in the standings.
One less lonely player in the world
Without a doubt, Cabañero still runs the show in España, even though he has taken on a personal quest to showcase his defensive chops alongside his offensive prowess.
READ: No need for a Nic fix in UST with many more weapons in Tigers' arsenal
Out went Manalang and Faye, though, and in came Forthsky Padrigao, Kyle Paranada, new FSA Mo Tounkara from Mali, and one-and-done Fil-American sensation Chase Lane.
All of a sudden, UST is fully-loaded for the first time since its Season 82 squad that went all the way to the Finals.
(SIDE NOTE: Do you remember that team? Do you?! Coach Aldin Ayo, Rhenz Abando, CJ Cansino, Mark Nonoy, Renzo Subido, Brent Paraiso, Sherwin Concepcion, and MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo. That was a championship-caliber core.)
"(Gutom) yan. Lahat yan, gutom, kasi pwede ba namang lagi kang kulelat every year? Kailangan, mag-perform na rin kayo dito," said Jarencio.
In particular, the fiery mentor has great expectations for Tounkara, who replaces Faye following the latter's unexpected exit from the squad after just two games.
"Mas maganda na kumpara last year na walang import. Struggling talaga kasi walang nagdo-dominate ng paint, walang nakakatulong sa last line of defense. At least ngayon, meron na," he said, talking about his new 6-foot-7 big.
Add to that prototypical UST wings in Fil-American Leland Estacio and NCAA Juniors MVP Amiel Acido, and the growl in growling may very well be heard all over town once more.
"Basta ang goal, sa taas. Pwede ba namang mag-goal ka na basta manalo lang ng dalawa, ok na kami?!" exclaimed Jarencio.
"Hindi ganoon yun! Basta kami, ang goal namin, sa taas. One win at a time lang."
Hold your horses!
Just to be clear, Jarencio himself would be the first to temper expectations that the dark days are over. After all, La Salle, the University of the Philippines, and National U still stand up there - and a steep mountain remains to be climbed for the Growling Tigers to reach, at the very least, their first Final Four since 2019.
"Wala pa kaming napapatunayan. Tingnan natin this season kung anong ipapakita. From there, let's build on it. Doon tayo mag-uumpisa," he said.
"Walang pressure naman e. Actually, kung iisipin mo, it will be yung first year namin kasi ito talaga yung team namin. Hindi naman overnight yan, pero basta kami, itong binuo namin na team na ito, confident kami."
What can't be denied, though, is that this present UST side will put on full display effort and energy that España would be proud of - drawing back that tsunami of black and gold into venues, and sending shivers down just about everybody's spines once the drums hit and 'Go USTe!' comes rolling around the arena.
"Yung mga players, gutom, and at the same time, gustong magpakita kasi bugbog na ang UST for the last few years. It's about time na ibalik naman natin ang UST para sa community, na mabigyan natin sila ng magandang laban," said Jarencio.
The big wave is nearly right in front of us. It's colored in black and gold. Listen to it, and its sound starts with DUG-DUDUG-DUG-DUG-DUG, DUG-DUDUG-DUG-DUG-DUG, DUG-DUG-DUG-DUG… 'Go USTe!'
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The UST Growling Tigers' first assignment in Season 87 is against the UE Red Warriors on Sunday, September 8 at the Araneta Coliseum.
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