Originally posted on the Balls Channel website
Head Coach:
Segundo "Bong" Dela Cruz (1st season)
Last Season:
Runner-up (8-6 in the eliminations)
#4-seed
in the Final Four, overcame NU’s twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four
lost to
La Salle in the Finals in three games
Key Losses: Coach
Pido Jarencio, Jeric Teng, Clark Bautista, Robin Tan, Robert Hainga, Bryan So,
Jeepy Faundo, Edcor Marata
Holdovers: Karim
Abdul, Kevin Ferrer, Aljon Mariano, Ed Daquioag, Jamil Sheriff, Kim Lo, Paulo
Pe, Kent Lao, Joco Macasaet
Key Acquisitions:
Louie Vigil (returnee), Gelo Sablan, Levi dela Cruz, Alfren Gayosa, Regie
Basibas, Renzo Subido
The Coach Says:
The Players Say:
“Lalaban pa rin yung team. Pipilitin pa rin naming makapunta ulit ng Final Four at Finals. Yun din naman yung gusto naming makuha eh – yung (championship) ring.” – Kevin Ferrer, forward
“Last chance ko na ‘to. Last opportunity para makuha yung championship sa team namin. Mas gutom ako kasi ang sama ng laro ko last season. Di na ko nag-dwell sa nangyari last season. Ginawa ko na lang yun na motivation, kumbaga back to zero kami para makapag-focus this year. This season, redemption ‘to para sa kin at para sa team namin.” – Aljon Mariano, forward
“Championship pa rin ang target namin. Ngayon kasi, we’re more on team offense and team defense. Malaki kasi yung nawala sa amin, pero naramdaman na namin yung ganito dati nung na-injure si (Jeric) Teng, so yung responsibility naman, naka-adjust na kami ng konti. Kailangan na lang talagang punan yung shooting ni Tata (Bautista).” – Ed Daquioag, guard
X-Factor: Louie
Vigil
Now tasked to take a bigger role after the gaping hole left
by star gunner Jeric Teng, the former NCAA Juniors MVP is eyed to be one of
those key scorers for UST after an impressive showing in the select preseason
tourneys joined by the boys in black-and-gold.
The 22-year-old guard said that the one year break allowed
him to rediscover his old self, subjecting his body on a better conditioning
program and developing a killer instinct.
“Wala namang masyadong nagbago. Although nag-sit out ako
last year, I’m still with them kaya walang major adjustments na nangyari,”
Vigil said. “Kung ano yung kaya kong i-ambag sa team, yun yung kailangan kong
gawin. Mas malaki na yung responsibility ko kasi malaki yung nawala kaya dapat
lagi lang akong handa.”
Prognosis:
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
UST will have to subject itself on that way of thinking, as
the Growling Tigers verge on its post-Pido era. Coming along with that is the
departure of Jeric Teng and Clark Bautista, who have been key cogs in the
back-to-back Finals trip for the España boys.
And they will not be the only one, as a number of opponents
still believe that UST will be a force to be reckoned with, as it is set to
once again parade seasoned veterans in Kevin Ferrer, Aljon Mariano, Ed
Daquioag, the much-improved Jamil Sheriff, and the hulking Cameroonian Karim
Abdul.
The Growling Tigers also welcome Louie Vigil back to their
fold, alongside its heady rookie recruits like Gelo Sablan from UPIS, Alfren
Gayosa from San Sebastian, and Renzo Subido from La Salle-Zobel.
Dela Cruz says that the ideals of coach Pido will remain
there, but his system will zero-in more on offense, as he is set to unveil a
more exciting running game for the Growling Tigers.
He also said that preparation for this season has been a
rocky one, with a lot of reasons due to a number of injuries the players had.
But he promises that when they finally get to their full strength, UST will no
longer have to wait for long to once again get a crack on that
championship.
It still begs to wonder if Dela Cruz, as much as he has
served two years as an assistant under Jarencio, has seamlessly incorporated
his coaching ideals to the squad, the same way if he has as much charisma as
his predecessor had.
*****
Ang ganda ng pictures mo ni Ferrer, Aljon Mariano, Ed Daquiaog at Louie Vigil dito! Pumayag sila magpakuha kahit naka-topless yung iba! :D
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