Photo via uaapsports.studio23.tv
One of the most verbose coaches in collegiate basketball, Pido Jarencio struggled to string together a few words to describe how he felt after his University of Santo Tomas upset the top-seeded National University in the Final Four over the weekend. “I did not know we would get this far,” Jarencio said in Filipino during the post-game interview, fighting back tears as he tried to maintain composure. “A lot of people had doubts on my ability.”
He begged off the interview midway and left the table, perhaps to walk off the emotion. UST completed what seemed to be an improbable task it faced: overcoming a twice-to-beat deficit as a lower-seeded team. Dominating the game on both ends of the court, the Tigers extended the Bulldogs’ title-drought one more year by handing down a 76-69 decision last Saturday.
In the process, the Tigers became the first fourth-seeded team to beat the top-ranked squad since the Final Four was institutionalized in 1994. The Final Four setup was put in place curiously after the 1993 UST team swept all its games which automatically earned them the UAAP championship that year.
Lanky forward Kevin Ferrer hustled on both ends of the floor, putting the clamps on two-time MVP Ray Parks, while hitting big shots to keep the Bulldogs at bay. He finished with 18 markers, grabbing five rebounds. He pestered Parks throughout the game, holding him down to 15 points, matching his output in their previous meeting.
King Tiger Jeric Teng took advantage of the mismatches in his defenders, hitting jumpers all day to lead all scorers with 19 points.
With the win, the Tigers arrange their duel with De La Salle University Green Archers, which they last faced in 1999. The Archers rallied against the Tigers, who won Game 1 of their final showdown, highlighted by the scintillating overtime win of the Taft-based squad behind the heroics of Dino Aldeguer and Don Allado.
Game 1 starts on Oct 2.
UST traded baskets with NU after halftime, as the game appeared to be a seesaw battle. But the Bulldogs had one turnover after another, miscues that the Tigers took advantage which helped them seize the lead. Parks appeared to push himself to finish the game but his legs betrayed him at the end game.
Towards the final seconds of the game, Jarencio sobbed as the UST bench started to celebrate. One by one, the coaching staff gave him a pat on his back, seemingly giving assurance that despite their roller coaster season, he did all right. MM
