Like It’s 1999: UST Tigers Back In Finals

After seven long years, the Espana cagers are back in the finals. The Growling Tigers of University of Santo Tomas showed great poise and composure in the end-game to barge to the championship round of the 2006 UAAP men’s basketball tournament with a masterful 82-81 victory over the University of the East last September 21 at the Araneta Coliseum. Jojo Duncil, the third-year veteran from Pampanga, made the play that propel the Tigers to the finals by following-up a miss by Jun Cortez for a three-point play with 53.8 seconds remaining to break away from a 79-all tie. “May mission pa kami at yun ay ang manalo ng championship,” said rookie UST coach Pido Jarencio. “Ibang labanan na ito pagdating sa finals kaya paghahandaan talaga namin ito.” The victory would also not have been possible without Jervy Cruz as he put up 27 points and 18 rebounds in the game. He carried the team in the first half scoring 15 on inside plays and putbacks. “God-sent si Jervy sa amin,” noted Jarencio. “Para siyang Alvin Patrimonio and Benjie Paras combined.” Rob Labagala did cut the deficit down to one, 82-81, 38 ticks to go. After a turnover by the Tigers in the waning moments, the Warriors raced down the court but the game-winning basket did not materialize as Jorel Canizares missed his leaner and his follow-up as the buzzer sounded. This is UST’s first finals appearance since they were upended by De La Salle in 1999. The Tigers have not tasted championship success since Aric Del Rosario led them to the school’s 18th men’s cage crown against the Green Archers in 1996. In a Final Four set-up, no number three seed team had won the championship since UST and Ateneo did it in 1994 and 2002. Ironically, both occasions were at the expense of UE. “This season, inemphasize ko na mapasok sa team ang winning attitude. Last place kami nung first round pero nakapasok kami sa finals. It’s God’s will,” Jarencio added. Duncil finished with 16 points while Anthony Espiritu had 12 points and five assists. Japs Cuan only had six points but contributed eight assists. The Warriors missed the services of Bonbon Custodio, who was reportedly suspended by the team. According to Carmelita Mateo, Executive Vice President of UE and team manager of the Warriors, Custodio was reprimanded due to “disciplinary measures based on infractions on certain team rules.” Custodio was not in the coliseum and could not be reached for a comment. Narciso Llagas stepped up off the bench with 14 points in just 14 minutes. Marcy Arellano also had 14, Kelvin Gregorio had 13 markers and two steals, and Mark Borboran got 12 points and six rebounds. The Recto-based squad had their moments in the final quarter as UE came back from a 70-66 deficit with Fradzmir Bandaying making five straight points including a triple that put them ahead, 73-72. A Gregorio fastbreak lay-up and a Labagala deuce made it 77-72. But Santo Tomas came through with a 6-2 spurt capped by a triple by Cortez to pull to within one, 79-78. Duncil tied the match with a free-throw before his end-game heroics. The Tigers face the Blue Eagles on September 24 at the Big Dome to start off their race-to-two championship series. UST and Ateneo have never met in the men’s basketball finals of the UAAP. “Pagdating sa championship, ibang ballgame na ito,” Jarencio said. “Makakabalik at makakabalik ka dahil best-of-three.” An 8-0 run by the Tigers led to the highest margin of the game, 31-17, in the second period. However, the Warriors racked up ten straight points in the third quarter that cut the deficit to just two, 53-51, making way for the thrilling finish. Tags: ust, tiger, finals, uaap, 2006, doctormagnus