Tigers, one win away from UAAP greatness

MANILA, Philippines -- If you would have told anyone that followed UAAP basketball a month ago that the UST Tigers were going to be one win away from claiming the title, they would have laughed at you.

A month ago, Jeric Teng was sidelined with a shoulder injury, Aljon Mariano was playing through an ankle injury, Kevin Ferrer was wearing a mask after breaking his nose, and the Thomasians were well out of the Final Four picture.

The Tigers didn’t look like they could survive another game, let alone win three consecutive do-or-die games.

But, as with every Pido Jarencio team, they refused to die. The Tigers managed enough wins to force a knockout game against defending champs, Ateneo, which they won handily. Then the boys from España did the unthinkable; overpowering and out-grinding the no.1 seeded NU to become the first no.4 seed to reach the Finals since the introduction of the Final Four format.

After squeaking past heavily-favored DLSU in Game one, the Tigers are on the brink of one of the most shocking comebacks in UAAP history going into Game 2 of the Finals tomorrow at the Araneta Colesium.

“Shocked nga ako, kung pano kami nanalo,” said Tigers’ Coach, Pido Jarencio. “Breaks of the game lang.”

After trading big play after play, UST finally sealed the victory in Game one when Karim Abdul swatted away LA Revilla’s put-back attempt as time expired.

UST’s experience and late game composure was key in their current season winning streak. The Tigers pounced on the Archers early in the game building a lead that stretched to 17 early in the first quarter.

For every DLSU run or clutch play, UST had an answer. After La Salle trimmed the lead down to one in the final minute of the game, Kevin Ferrer drilled a trey from one foot outside of the three point line. When DLSU forced a turnover with a chance to win the game, UST answered with the biggest defensive play of the game.

UST’s top gunners, who each had their struggles sometime in the season, are hitting their strides at just the right time. Karim Abdul was spectacular all-game with 19 points and 12 rebounds after being a non-factor in their games against NU. Jeric Teng contributed 17 points and is finally back to his MVP form from early in the season. Kevin Ferrer, who was 0 for eight in their last two elimination games, nailed five for eight from distance, and is shooting 50% from three in the Final Four.

“I think it was Ferrer who killed us… his 62% from three is what killed us,” said Archers Head Coach Juno Sauler, who has won a UAAP Women’s Basketball title.

But, just like UST, DLSU is also hungry for a title after being stymied by five time champs, Ateneo. Up until this season, the La Salle-Ateneo rivalry has been lopsided with the boys from Katipunan claiming the title in Season 71 in sweep against the Archers.

“It’s really not their championship experience but they’ve really been playing very well in their last three games so we just have to do better next game,” said Sauler.

DLSU’s retooling efforts have finally climaxed this season; forming a cohesive mix of veterans and versatile new recruits. The Archers boast a deeper lineup headlined by a formidable bigman rotation in Arnold Van Opstal, Jason Perkins, and Norbert Torres.

If DLSU can control the pace for a majority of the game, especially late in the fourth period, and capitalize on their size advantage, this series is going the distance.

But given how miraculous) UST’s title runs have been, there might be something more than the Tigers’ Pido Jarencio-like grit and overwhelming community support propelling them during this run. In 2006, the last time the Tigers claimed the title, they barely made the playoffs with 6-6 record. But reminiscent of this season, the undersized Tigers hobbled, scratched and clawed past Ateneo.

“Basta kami, nothing to lose. Galing pa kami sa ilalim, babangon kami,” expressed Jarencio.