EVERY year, there’s a phrase that finds its way into our conversations each time December 31 rolls onto the first day of January, marking the start of a clean slate, a new chance: “This is going to be my year."
They promise a new beginning, to be able to leave behind every bad thing in the year that has passed, a chance to make things right.
And for the UST Growling Tigresses, the words rang true in 2023.
UST ends NU's dynasty
After a lengthy drought, the fierce Tigresses of España were back on top of collegiate women’s basketball, as they dethroned the high and mighty NU Lady Bulldogs in three games in the UAAP Season 86 women’s hoops tournament.
Gone were the days of falling short, of succumbing to the inevitability of NU. Because this time, UST head coach Haydee Ong and her band of cagers weren’t about to settle for any moral victories.
Like a movie scene, Ong’s Tigresses recovered from a 15-point deficit in the winner-take-all Game Three.
Never mind that they had been in similar situations before, where NU had beaten them time and time again.
This year, it was going to be different.
“I’m really lost for words, I’m really so happy for the girls. Sila may gawa nito. We were down big — 15 points. Sabi ko sa kanila, don’t give up. Stick together,” said Ong of their feat that ended a 17-year drought of basketball championships for UST.
History didn’t matter – unimportant that NU had been unstoppable in the last seven seasons, or that in her tenure, Ong had only beaten the Lady Bulldogs once before.
Just like when a calendar is flipped to a new year, there were no blemishes, no marks, and no reminders of the past for the Tigresses to think about.
Tuning out the noise, it was their heart that remained.
“I think that spelled the difference, yung puso ng mga player ko na hindi bumigay,” said Ong.
It was a story-book ending for the Growling Tigresses when the buzzer sounded and pandemonium rang through the UST faithful in the iconic Araneta Coliseum.
Swan song for Tantoy Ferrer
But if anyone felt more special, it was graduating veteran Tantoy Ferrer.
In her swan song, Ferrer won Finals MVP. Like a true hero, she celebrated the taste of victory after the sting of an ACL injury just two seasons ago.
After facing uncertainty, she couldn’t help but be in awe of what the 2023 season brought.
“Diba parang impossible nga, kasi ACL injury ako one year [ago] tapos eto ako lumaban sa championship, and may bonus pa nakuha yung Finals MVP,” said Ferrer. “Grateful talaga ako.”
For so long, the Lady Bulldogs had been the gold standard for women’s basketball. But now, as other teams step up to the plate, challengers emerge.
And as the quality of women’s basketball in the country rises, UST, with its new-found glory, has certainly changed the game.
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