The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers will return to the final four for the second straight season, as they defeated league-leaders National University Bulldogs, 80-71, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, November 23.

Having a five-point deficit late in the third quarter, 48-53, Gelo Crisostomo, Mark Llemit, Amiel Acido, and Kyle Paranada sparked an impressive 18-2 run to gain an 11-point lead, 66-55, with 8:24 remaining in the game.

“We got that nice record in the first round, then second round, three losses agad. Four straight losses. Marami nang nagdududa, papasok ba itong UST na ito? Ano ba itong UST na ito, joke lang ba ito? No. We’re here. Parating na kami,” said Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio, who attended the post-game interviews for the first time this season.

Crisostomo led the Growling Tigers in scoring with 13 points and five rebounds, while Collins Akowe had another double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Llemit and Acido finished the match with 11 points apiece.

For the Bulldogs, Omar John led the team with a double-double performance of 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Nath Tulabut added 10 points.

Earlier that day, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles kept their final four hopes alive as they clawed the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 72-61, eliminating the San Marcelino-based squad from contention.

Starting slowly, the Blue Eagles were trailing in the second quarter before Shawn Tuano, Ian Espinosa, Waki Espina, Divine Adili, Dom Escobar, and Jaden Lazo ignited a 16-5 run to take a huge lead coming into halftime, 42-27.

In the fourth quarter, the Soaring Falcons tried to make a comeback, but the 26-point lead of the Blue Eagles proved to be too much as they got eliminated from the final four.

“Adamson has shown all year long what a tough team they are to put away. They’ve had some of the more remarkable comeback wins, and we know they’re capable of taking a knockout punch and getting up somehow. I give credit to our team for hanging on in this one and making the plays down the stretch that it took,” said Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin.

Escobar led the Blue Eagles with 14 points and five rebounds, while Espina and Kymani Ladi had 13 points apiece. Tuano finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds.

For the Soaring Falcons, John Erolon led the team with 24 points and five rebounds, while Ray Allen Torres added 16 points.

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It took eight wins for the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and a sure spot in the Final Four for their head coach, Pido Jarencio, to appear in a post-game interview. Now in his final year of his three-year contract with the team, Jarencio refused to back down to naysayers and critics after what his team has been through.

“Marami lang kasi mga marites, d’yan, e, kung anu-ano ang mga sinasabi. ‘Pag natalo ka, ang sama-sama mo tao, pero pag nanalo ka, ang pogi mo. Lintik na ‘yan, walang balanse, e. Wala man lang, hindi sayang, walang ganon, e. Talagang iko-condem ka, e,” he said.

Jarencio, who led the Growling Tigers in their last UAAP championship in 2006 in his rookie season, reiterated that they played as one team, win or lose.

“Manalo, matalo, sama-sama kaming lahat. We had that nice record nung first round, tapos three losses kaagad, ‘no? Actually, four losses ‘yun kasi one against Adamson, and natalo na naman ng four straight losses,” he said.

“Marami na naman pinag-uusapan at marami na naman pinagdududahan na papasok pa kaya itong UST na ito? Ano ba itong UST na ito, joke lang ba ito? No, we’re here, okay? Nakarating na kami.

In the end, what’s important for the Growling Tigers is the coaches’ trust in the players that they can execute their plays in the game.

“Ako talaga, 100% naman ‘yung confidence ko sa mga bata na ito, e. Medyo may struggle, pero nakaka-recover naman. Malaki tiwala namin sa mga bata na ito, at ‘yung mga bata naman, alam ‘yung sistema at ang laki ng tiwala nila sa coaches,” he said.

“‘Yun na ‘yung laruan namin talaga. Takbuhan, tapos sharing the ball, playing as a team, kaya ‘yan ang resulta ng stats. For us, normal na talaga sa amin ‘yan kasi we’re playing as a group and one unit. Amiel [Acido] and Mark [Llemit] stepping up din, ‘yung three-points ni Mark at ni Amiel, timely lahat. Timing-timing din ‘yan sa mga player na tumutulong.”

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Since they only have a season of play in the UAAP for the blue-and-white, the trio of Kymani Ladi, Dom Escobar, and Jaden Lazo refused to back down, especially when their backs were against the wall.

In their 72-61 victory against the Blue Eagles that kept their final four hopes alive, it was Escobar and Ladi who led the team. Escobar had 14 points and five rebounds, while Ladi contributed 13 points and five boards.

After the match, Escobar said, “I think it’s really important to us. We only have a year, and that’s it.”

The only team that is on the way of the Blue Eagles’ return to the final four is none other than their archrivals, the De La Salle University Green Archers, who they will be facing on Wednesday, November 26.

To make things spicier in the storied rivalry, the Green Archers are also in contention for the last spot in the final four.

“This next game is very crucial for us. We’ve got everything to lose [in] this next game. We’ve got to leave everything out there on the court. That starts with practices. We’ve got to make sure we get our proper rest and recovery for tonight,” Escobar added.

Ladi ended, “I think we know how crucial it is for these next couple [of] games. We’re trying our best to do what we can so that the team gets a win.”