Sports
NOVEMBER 29, 2017
SABLAN OUT
Growling Tigers suffer worst season in 28 years By JAN CARLO ANOLIN AND MIA ARRA C. CAMACHO THE UST Growling Tigers averted a winless season by notching their first victory on their final game of the season against the UE Red Warriors, 88-85, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Nov. 12. Oliver De Guzman sank two freebies to seal the game after JC Cullar’s layup pulled UE to within one with four seconds left, 86-85. “Siyempre masaya [ako] kasi hindi kami na 0 [wins] and at the same time heto ‘yung part ng rebuilding process namin,” head coach Rodil “Boy” Sablan said. Team captain Marvin Lee said the win felt as if they won a championship game. “Masarap ‘yung feeling na nanalo. Parang nag-champion na kami pagdating doon…’yung mga nangyari samin [sana] maging aral sa amin at inspiration para sa next season,” he said. The Tigers ended their 17-game losing streak dating back to last season. The last time UST won was against the National University on Oct. 15, 2016.
The Tigers finished the season with just one win for the first time in the Final Four era, reaching a new low after mustering three wins last year. UST’s one-win season is the fewest since the team won two games in 1989. Five Tigers scored in doublefigures led by Reggie Basibas’ 21 points, nine rebounds and three steals while Steve Akomo hauled 18 markers and 20 boards. Lee, Eric Caunan and Christian Garcia also combined for 35 points. The Tigers uncorked a late run in the first half to take an 11-point lead before UE surged back to cut the deficit to four, 43-39. UST enjoyed an early 23-9 lead in the first quarter to gain the biggest margin at 14. Alvin Pasaol paced UE with 18 markers and five steals while three other Warriors scored in double-digits. The Tigers will remain intact with only big man Jeepy Faundo leaving the team after exhausting his playing years.
Sablan out The Tigers are looking for a new coach to replace Sablan, who was finally sacked following a 1-13 UAAP season. Sablan, who won only four games in two years as UST coach, will be out effective Nov. 30, Rector Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. told the Varsitarian. Dagohoy did not say if the entire coaching staff would be replaced. “In spite of the unsuccessful season for the Tigers, we thank them for their contributions to our program,” he said in a text message. Dagohoy said UST was still in the “process of determining who the (next) coach would be.” Growling Tigresses assistant coach Arsenio Dysangco Jr. will facilitate practices for the Tigers until a new coach is named in December. Sablan’s replacement will be named by the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, he said.
Boy Sablan
Salinggawi seeks to end 10-year title drought By MIA ARRA C. CAMACHO THE UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe is focusing on a “solid yet perfect” routine in an attempt to end its decade-long championship drought in the UAAP Season 80 cheerdance competition. Since a historic five-peat from 2002 to 2006, the squad has been inconsistent. It finished fourth last year. “Ngayon, ‘yung level of difficulty ng cheer elements ay malayong mas mahirap compared to the previous seasonsna sinasabi ng mga tao na puro linis lang. Mas palaban naSalinggawi ang makikita nila,” first-year Salinggawi head coach Mark Chaiwalla told the Varsitarian. The team conceptualized its theme in late June and started training in mid-July
after Chaiwalla’s official appointment. Through the collective effort of the coaching staff, members and the squad’s artistic committee, the official choreography and costume design was finalized in August. Despite the improved elements, the 26-year-old coach ensured that the health and safety of the dancers are still the priorities. Chaiwalla said this year’s roster had a hard time keeping up with the dangerous stunts during the initial weeks of rehearsals. But after the team doubled its training, Chaiwalla sawimprovement in discipline, endurance, strength and flexibility. “Malaki ang in-improve nila. Noong first run nila halos wala talagang tumatayo sa stunts pero ngayon paisa-isa na lang ang
laglag. Sinusubukan namin na walang ni isang malaglag. They are much ready now compared to last month,” he said. With a few weeks left before the competition, Chaiwalla is confident they have enough time to perfect the tiny detailsand ensure a flawless six-minute routine. Adjusting with a new coach that came five months before the competition, team president and captain BenjoGutierrez reminded his teammates to trust the processand the new management. He added that the strong criticisms of their coach set the team free from their comfort zone. “Hindi kasi maiiwasan na mag-doubt sila dahil naging magaling din si coach Ramon Pagaduan pero ‘yung pagtuturo
ni coach Chaiwalla really pushed us beyond what we thought we were not capable of doing,” he said. During the offseason, Salinggawi snatched a bronze medal in the World Cultural Dance Festival in South Korea last June 29. Salinggawi is seventh to perform in the competition on Dec. 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Under his helm, Chaiwalla believes that this new and improved version of Salinggawi is ready to bring back the glory for UST. UST is tied with the University of the Philippines as the winningest teams in UAAP cheerdance history with eight titles.
Growling Tigresses settle for third By JAN CARLO ANOLIN
THE UST Growling Tigresses crashed out of finals contention after yielding to the University of the East Lady Warriors, 62-69, in the UAAP Season 80 women’s basketball tournament stepladder semifinals at the Mall of Asia Arena last Nov. 25. UST finished the tournament at third place, an improvement from their fifth spot last year. Trailing by nine points after the third, UE started the final frame on a 17-3 run to take a 64-59 lead with 1:30 to go. UE clamped down on the Tigresses in the fourth and outscored UST in the period, 22-6. The Tigresses’ first points came with 4:23 left via Kikay Gandalla’s triple. “We’re not getting the calls na tinatawag nila sa UE. They gave 35 freethrows against 19 sa amin,” UST From left: Lon Rivera, Jhenn Angeles and Ruby Portillo
head coach Haydee Ong said. UE drained 26 of its 35 freethrows, including nine out of 15 freebies in the fourth quarter alone. UST went 11-of-19 from the stripe. Love Sto. Domingo led UE with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Eunique Chan and Joyce Francisco chipped in 16 and 14 markers, respectively. Larosa and Anjel Anies had 16 points apiece for UST. Overachieving For the past two seasons, the Tigresses fell short in playoff games and placed fifth in the rankings. But this time, Ong saw a huge improvement in her wards’ overall performance after finishing third place. “I told the team [that] it’s a one hell of a season for us. It’s a great
run. And we will come back stronger next season,” the two-year tactician said. UST will miss the services of Anies, team captain Jhenn Angeles, Tata Jerez, Marian Isanan and Bets Penaflorafter exhausting their playing years. Angeles was among the scoring leaders with 16 ppg while Anies tallied 12 ppg. With five players leaving, Ong said the team will berebuilding next season and will start to scout new players. As previously reported by the Varsitarian, rookies Tabitha Valera, daughter of former Growling Tiger Boy Valera, and 6’3” Congo-native Grace Irebu are expected to suit up for UST next year. Should the one-year residency be applied, Irebu would be cleared to play for the Tigresses in Season 81.