TOTUS TUUS, UST!!!
"Totally Yours, UST!!!"
Immediately after the final buzzer in OT,
a Thomasian ran around the Araneta Coliseum hardwood
with a tarpaulin poster of John Paul II (We Love You!!!)
On both his visits to the Philippines,
in 1981 and 1995,
JP2 celebrated Mass at the "Pontifical & Ever Loyal"
University of Santo Tomas.
I'm glad that the Thomasians found it fit
to celebrate their unexpected championship
with a message of thanks to their favorite guest.
I guess this year,
Loyolas' Hail Mary Team just had to give way
to the Vatican-sponsored UST Tigers!
Pido Jarencio,
once upon a time,
played in a Game 3 of the UAAP Finals:
in 1984,
he scored 49 points in a losing effort
against the University of the East Warriors,
who were led by Allan Caidic's 48 points,
and Jerry Codinera's ferocious defense and rebounding.
Pido then had a sterling career in the PBA,
winning several championships with Ginebra San Miguel,
coached by another (Living) Legend from UE,
The Big J.
This year,
as a rookie coach of his Alma Mater,
he motivated the young but bravehearted Thomasians
to will themselves to get the crown
from the strongest, most experienced team in the UAAP.
Somehow,
with his combination of Jaworski-like guts and gusto,
and
by chanelling Ginebra's underdog mentality,
Coach Pido made it happen for the UST Tigers.
It was his gift to his school,
22 years after being denied of his ring as a player.
"Para sa ALUMNI ito....
Maraming Salamat!!!!"
posted by spanx at 12:52 PM
4 Comments:
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When I was in the Philippines last June, I met Fr. Franklin Beltran, OP on a plane from Tuguegarao City to Manila. Fr. Franklin was the most basketball active Dominican when I was a seminarian at the UST Central Seminary. He is the former sports coordinator of Letran during the time of Samboy Lim and he was the PE Director of UST during the high school days of Marlou Aquino and EJ Feihl. When I played as a Varsity of the Central Seminary (known as ECCLE in the intramurals), he was the manager of the College of Education Varsity. When, I asked him how the UST Tigers will fare on this year’s UAAP Basketball, he said “they will surprise everybody”.
And so, the Tigers have, indeed, surprised everybody. From the cellar of the first round eliminations (they were at the bottom because one after the other, the great players were either sick or injured) they rose to 3rd for the final four. They have already made Thomasians like me proud by securing the no. 3 spot. At the Final Four play-offs, all the more they surprised everybody by beating the favored UE Warriors which enjoyed a twice to beat privilege. Reaching the Finals was already quite an achievement for a team that was never expected by experts to be part of the final four casts.
Game 1 showed the inexperience of the young squad as they bungled a won game with that last one second defensive lapse as they lost 73-72. But in game two, they have proven that they are in the Finals not by sheer luck by clobbering the Blue Eagles 87-71. The game 3 overtime win has proven all pundits wrong. They bagged the Crown with a 76-74 win over the Blue Eagles. This UAAP Championship will be one for the books. It has all the elements of a classic that basketball fans will savor years and decades from now. It was a real Cinderella finish for a young team with a Rookie coach- Pido Jarencio who during his time as a Goldie (the tigers were Goldies at that time) was not able to bring the gold as a lonesome hero of the then UST Goldies in 1983 in a classic match with UE’s Allan Caidic for the 1984 UAAP Finals.
The win brought the old glory we savored during the four-peat years from1993-1996. I was lucky to be at the UST Central Seminary in those years. I remember going from one Dominican priest to another to ask for most sought after UAAP Championship tickets in all of those years. There was even a time when I had to buy a ringside ticket from the driver of Dennis Espino. But it was Fr. Virgilio Ojoy, OP, the UST Secretary-General at that time, who pampered us with ringside tickets.
I can imagine the Thomasians having a grand victory party at the UST Grounds at this very moment. During the four-peat years, there were roasted calves and packed dinner in each victory celebration. As they celebrate, I am sure they are shouting those cheers over and over again till their voices become hoarse.
Hi Sir!
thank you very much for your comment.
although Atenista at Thomasian ako,
for some reason, I really cheered for the Tigers this year.
I really felt they were a team of destiny, and for Coach Pido, a team of redemption.
btw, are you acquainted with Fr. Carlos? he's our parish priest in San Agustin, San Fernando, Pampanga,
and in the Final Four leading up to the Finals, we had many talks about our beloved UST Team.
Fr. Carlos also played basketball for the UST Seminary back in the early 1970s.
GO GO GO UST!!!
Hi, sorry i do not know Fr. Carlos pero im sure nakikita ko sya during alumni priests homecoming sa USTE.... by the way ang ganda ng blogs mo.. more power and God bless...
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