The UST Growling Tigers, Tigresses, Tiger Cubs and Tigress Cubs are the collegiate and high school men's and women's varsity teams of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. They hold the most UAAP Overall Championships with 48 senior and 24 junior overall championships.
UST is one of four member universities that participate in all 15 sporting events of the league. They also participate in various sports leagues, such as the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, the Premier Volleyball League, the PFF Women's League, and the UNIGAMES.
Team identity Mascot and colors
The gold and white colors of the flag of Vatican City were adopted by the University of Santo Tomas for their school colors because of its Pontifical status.
They were known as the Glowing Goldies until a name change in 1992. UST Rector Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, who was appointed in 1991 recalled in a speech to the school's administrators and faculty members during his 2007 Rector's Report on how UST's present Growling Tigers moniker came to be.
It was during the parade of school mascots in the opening ceremonies of Season 54 (1991–92) when an embarrassing incident occurred. Unlike the other member schools, UST had no mascot to represent their varsity teams and it gave the host school a hard time in coming up with a suitable representation for the Glowing Goldies. A “fat Dominican friar” who was carrying bags of gold had come out with the other mascots and drew a lot of laughter from the crowd in attendance.
Fr. De la Rosa later instructed PE moderator Bro. Rolando Atienza to conduct a naming activity for a new mascot. Mrs. Felicitas Francisco, directress of the PE department, suggested the tiger as the new mascot due to its gold and white colors.
When it was UST's turn to be host in Season 55 (1992–93), the new growling tiger mascot debuted in the opening ceremonies. Since then, Mrs. Francisco always donned her tiger-striped coat when she attends UST playoff games. The High School boys' team followed suit by changing their name from the "Golden Nuggets" to the "Tiger Cubs".
The Manila Central University Purple Owls once used the tiger mascot (with purple and gold colors) when they participated in the UAAP from 1952 until their pullout in 1962.
Varsity team monikers The names of the University of Santo Tomas collegiate varsity teams that participate in the 15 UAAP sporting events are shown in the table below. SportMenWomenBoysGirls Basketball Growling Tigers Growling Tigresses Growling Tiger Cubs Growling Tigress Cubs Volleyball Golden Spikers Golden Tigresses Junior Golden Spikers Junior Golden Tigresses Beach volleyball Tiger Sands Lady Spikers Junior Tiger Sands Junior Golden Tigresses Football Golden Booters Lady Booters Junior Golden Booters No team Baseball Golden Sox No team Junior Golden Sox No team Softball No team Softbelles No team No team Judo Golden Judokas Lady Judokas Junior Golden Judokas Junior Lady Judokas Taekwondo Tiger Jins Lady Jins Junior Tiger Jins No team Fencing Tiger Fencers Lady Fencers Junior Tiger Fencers Junior Lady Fencers Swimming Tiger Sharks Lady Tiger Sharks Junior Tiger Sharks Junior Lady Tiger Sharks Track and field Tiger Tracksters Lady Tracksters Junior Tiger Tracksters No team Badminton Golden Shuttlers Lady Shuttlers No team No team Tennis Tiger Tennisters Lady Tennisters No team No team Table tennis Tiger Paddlers Lady Paddlers Junior Tiger Paddlers No team Chess Male Woodpushers Female Woodpushers Junior Tiger Woodpushers No team Arnis Golden Arnisadors Lady Arnisadors Junior Golden Arnisadors No team CheerleadingSalinggawi Dance TroupeJHS Pep Squad StreetdancePrimeGalvanize EsportTeletigers
Basketball
The UST men's and boys' basketball teams were first formed in the year of the NCAA's foundation in 1924. UST won their first and only NCAA men's championship in NCAA Season 6 (1930).
In the UAAP, they have the most combined championships with 40 from the men's, women's and boys' teams. The men's total of 18 titles is tied with the UE Red Warriors' for the second most championships behind FEU's 20.
In 1993 the Growling Tigers finished the double-round eliminations with a rare 14–0 sweep and were declared automatic champions of the UAAP Season 56 men's tournament. This was the start of the Growling Tigers' four-peat championship run in the UAAP. The Tigers faced and defeated the De La Salle Green Archers for three consecutive finals series.
UST's last championship before the sweep was in 1967 when they were declared co-champions with UE in Season 30.
The Tiger Cubs and the Tigresses also have successful basketball programs with each team having a total of 11 UAAP championships.
In 1994, the men's, women's and juniors' teams won the UAAP Season 57 basketball championship in their respective divisions. This was the only time that a triple championship was achieved in the UAAP. UST also won double championships in Seasons 58 and 69 with the Growling Tigers and the Tigresses winning both their division titles in both years.
UST's off-season training includes participation in summer basketball tournaments. The Tiger Cubs regularly join the MILCU Summer Showcase, Smart City HOOPS, Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup juniors tournament and the PCABL Freego Cup. The Tigresses recently played in the Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament and Breakdown Basketball Invitational tournament, while the Growling Tigers continue to participate in the MILCU Under-25 tournaments, the PBA D-League, Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, Breakdown Basketball Invitational, Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament, the Millennium Open Basketball championship, as well as pocket tournaments in the provinces such as the Kim Lope Asis Invitational Basketball Tournament in Bayugan, the Kadayawan Basketball Invitational in Davao City, and the Republica Cup collegiate tournament in Malolos. They have also competed in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, an annual postseason tournament for schools that topped their respective leagues.
The UST Tigress Cubs girls' basketball team were declared co-champions with Adamson in Season 82's inaugural exhibition tournament after the deciding Game three of their finals series was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tigresses finished second in the four-team eliminations with 4 wins and 2 losses behind the Lady Falcons' perfect 6–0 record.
UAAP seasons
Season Year Men Women Boys2 1939 Champions 3 1940 Champions 9 1946 Champions 10 1947 Champions 11 1948 Champions 12 1949 Champions 13 1950 Runners-up 14 1951 Champions 15 1952 Champions 16 1953 Champions 17 1954 Champions18 1955 Champions 19 1956 Runners-up 20 1957 Runners-up 22 1959 Champions 23 1960 3rd place 24 1961 Runners-up 27 1964 Champions 28 1965 Runners-up 29 1966 Runners-up 30 1967 Champions 31 1968 Runners-up 32 1969 Runners-up 34 1971 Runners-up 39 1976 Runners-up 40 1977 Runners-up 41 1978 Runners-up 42 1979 Runners-up Champions 43 1980 Runners-up Runners-up 44 1981 Runners-up 45 1982 Runners-up Champions46 1983 Runners-up Season Year Men Women Boys47 1984 Runners-up Champions 48 1985 Runners-up Champions 49 1986 Runners-up Runners-up50 1987 Champions Runners-up51 1988 Champions Runners-up52 1989 Champions 53 1990 Champions 54 1991 3rd place Runners-up 55 1992 Champions 56 1993 Champions Runners-up 57 1994 Champions Champions Champions58 1995 Champions Champions Runners-up59 1996 Champions Champions60 1997 3rd place Runners-up61 1998 Champions62 1999 Runners-up Runners-up63 2000 Runners-up64 2001 Champions69 2006 Champions Champions 70 2007 3rd place 71 2008 3rd place 72 2009 3rd place73 2010 3rd place Runners-up74 2011 3rd place 75 2012 Runners-up 3rd place76 2013 Runners-up 3rd place 78 2015 Runners-up 80 2016 3rd place 3rd place81 2017 3rd place 82 2019 Runners-up Runners-up 85 2022 3rd place 86 2023 Champions 3rd place87 2024 3rd place Runners-up Champions88 2025 Champions Total 1st place 18 13 12
Other tournaments
Men 1930 NCAA Season 7 – Champions 2003 Philippine Collegiate Champions' League – 3rd place 2004 Home and Away Invitational League – Runners-up 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions' League – Champions 2014 Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament – Runners-up 2015 Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament – Runners-up 2017 32nd Kadayawan Basketball Invitational – Champions 2017 7th Kim Lope Asis Invitational tournament – Runners-up 2017 Republica Cup Basketball tournament – Runners-up 2018 33rd Kadayawan Basketball Invitational – Runners-up 2018 8th Kim Lope Asis Invitational tournament – Champions 2019 NBA China 5v5 Grand Finals – Runners-up
Women 2002 Women's Basketball League – Champions 2003 Women's Basketball League – Champions 2004 Women's Basketball League – Champions 2005 Home and Away Invitational League – Runners-up 2005 Women's Basketball League – Champions 2006 Women's Basketball League – Champions 2013 UNIGAMES – Champions 2019 Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament – Runners-up 2019 Breakdown Basketball Invitational Summer Cup – Runners-up Boys 1989 National Secondary Title – Champions 2017 MILCU x Got Skills Hard to Guard U17 tournament – Champions 2019 12th PCABL Freego Cup – Runners-up
Notable players
+ MVP awardees Season Year Men Women Boys15 1952 Ning Ramos 26 1963 Valentino Rosabal 29 1966 Danny Florencio 32 1969 Garry Artajos 42 1979 Edmund Yee 56 1993 Dennis Espino 57 1994 Dennis Espino Gerard Francisco58 1995 Chris Cantonjos 59 1996 Emmerson Oreta61 1998 Alwyn Espiritu63 2000 Jun Cortez64 2001 Jun Cortez69 2006 Jojo Duncil Charmaine Canuel 70 2007 Jervy Cruz 71 2008 Marichu Bacaro 72 2009 Dylan Ababou 73 2010 Kevin Ferrer80 2017 CJ Cansino81 2018 Grace Irebu 82 2019 Soulémane Chabi Yo Grace Irebu + Rookie of the year awardees Season Year Men Women Boys24 1961 Valentino Rosabal 58 1995 Gerard Francisco 65 2002 Japs Cuan72 2009 Jeric Teng Kevin Ferrer76 2013 Aaron Reyes81 2018 Tantoy Ferrer 82 2019 Mark Nonoy
3x3 basketball The 3x3 basketball competition was introduced in Season 80 as a demonstration sport. UST did not join the men's inaugural contest, but the Growling Tigresses composed of Jhenn Angeles, Angel Anies, Karla Manuel and Carol Sangalang placed third behind the Adamson Lady Falcons and champions NU Lady Bulldogs.
In its second year, the UST Growling Tigers ended up tied with the UP Fighting Maroons and the De La Salle Green Archers at 3 wins and 3 losses behind the undefeated Ateneo Blue Eagles. They were represented by Renzo Subido, Soulémane Chabi Yo, Dave Ando and Rhenz Abando. The women's team of Sai Larosa, Tantoy Ferrer, Lon Rivera and Carol Sangalang also tied UE and Adamson's 4–3 record behind the undefeated and defending champions, the NU Lady Bulldogs.
Beginning in Season 82, the 3x3 competition is set to become an official tournament in the UAAP. The sport, with the participation of all eight UAAP schools will begin in March 2020.
Volleyball
The UST Tiger Spikers have 19 UAAP men's volleyball championships, while the Golden Tigresses have 16 women's volleyball crowns and the Junior Tigresses have six girls' volleyball titles. The Tigresses were champions for seven consecutive years from Seasons 47 thru 53, while both the men's and girls' teams achieved a three-peat in Seasons 70, 71 and 72. The Junior Tiger Spikers have one UAAP crown which they won in Season 80.
The Tiger Spikers also participate in the Spikers' Turf, a preseason league where they finished second in the 2018 Collegiate Conference and third on two occasions in 2016 and 2017. The Golden Tigresses have had better success in the women's preseason tournaments, having won the most titles among collegiate teams in the Premier Volleyball League with six, beginning at the inaugural tournament in 2004 when the league was still known as the Shakey's V-League. The Junior Tigresses have won four championships in the Shakey's Girls' Volleyball League.