The 2006 UST Growling Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Santo Tomas in the men's basketball tournament of the 69th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The Tigers defeated the Blue Eagles of the Ateneo de Manila University to win their nineteenth UAAP men's title, and their first since the 1996 season. Jervy Cruz was selected on the Mythical Five, and Jojo Duncil was named as the Most Valuable Player of the Finals.
Roster No. Pos Name Birthplace Yr. Remarks Current Status 6 SF Dylan Ababou Leyte 2 Playing for TNT Tropang Texters 16 SF Francis Philip Allera General Santos 2 Last played for Kia Carnival 7 PF Mark Angelo Canlas Pampanga 2 Playing for Meralco Bolts 12 PG Jose "June" Cortez Pampanga 4 Graduated 20 PF/C Jervy Cruz Nueva Ecija 1 Elevated from Team B Playing for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 18 PG John Paul "Japs" Cuan Bicol 3 Graduated 10 C Jun Dizon Nueva Ecija 4 Last played in Philippine Basketball League 11 SG Joselito "Jojo" Duncil Pampanga 3 Last playing year Last played for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 8 SG Anthony Espiritu Manila 4 Last played in Philippine Basketball League 21 PF Allan Evangelista (C) Quezon City 5 Last playing year Last played in Liga Pilipinas 9 SF Mel Gile Sydney 1 Graduated 5 PG AC Marquez 1 Transferred to Team B Graduated, training as a pilot 17 C Chester Lloyd Taylor Quezon 3 Graduated 14 SG Jemal Vizcarra Pampanga 5 Last playing year Last played in Liga Pilipinas Head coach: Pido Jarencio Assistant coaches: Beaujing Acot – defensive coach Senen Duenas – offensive coach Emmanuel Calipes – conditioning, endurance coach Julian Rabbi Tomacruz – Liaison to UST Admin; Team B trainer, statistics Edwin Escobar – Weights trainer Rodil "Boy" Sablan – Academic Manager Team Physicians: Dr. Consuelo G. Suarez – Rehab Medicine, Sports Medicine Dr. Raul B. Palma – General Team Physician, neurosports medicine, team psychologist Institute of nutrition, Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Interns - Arlene Chua Team manager: Timmy Chiong, Clarence Aytona, Rudy Yu, Hendric Hermida
Preseason tournaments After the expiration of head coach Nel Parado contract at the 2005 yearend, the university administration announced the hiring of former varsity and Ginebra San Miguel standout Pido Jarencio as the new head coach.Jarencio taking over as UST coach INQ7.net. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
The Tigers participated in one off-season tournament: the Home and Away Invitational League (HAIL), where they were eliminated in the elimination round with a 3–4 record, good for fourth place, a game behind fourth seed Ateneo.
Date Opponent Score Venue Round Jan 27 UE Red Warriors W 81–74 UST Gym HAIL Elimination round Feb 3 @ San Beda Red Lions L 70–74 San Beda Gym HAIL Elimination round Feb 15 @ FEU Tamaraws L 69–83 FEU Gym HAIL Elimination round Feb 17 @ Lyceum Pirates L 81–85 Lyceum Gym HAIL Elimination round Feb 20 De La Salle Green Archers W 70–62 UST Gym HAIL Elimination round Mar 1 @ EAC Generals W 90–74 EAC Gym HAIL Elimination round Mar 5 @ Ateneo Blue Eagles L 90–97 Blue Eagle Gym HAIL Elimination roundRecord after the elimination round: 3 wins-4 losses (5th, out of the playoffs)
Schedule Due to the suspension of the De La Salle Green Archers,UAAP slaps 1-year ban on De La Salle INQ7.net. Retrieved October 5, 2006. the league used a two-round, 12-game schedule, instead of the normal 14-game schedule. Date Opponent Score Venue Round Jul 9 UP Fighting Maroons L 92–94 Ninoy Aquino Stadium 1st round Jul 13 Adamson Soaring Falcons Postponed Ninoy Aquino Stadium 1st round Jul 20 FEU Tamaraws W 90–87 Ninoy Aquino Stadium 1st round Jul 23 UE Red Warriors W 91–77 Ninoy Aquino Stadium 1st round Jul 29 NU Bulldogs L 85–98 Ninoy Aquino Stadium 1st round Aug 3 Adamson Soaring Falcons L 62–74 Ninoy Aquino Stadium 1st round Aug 6 Ateneo Blue Eagles L 78–114 Araneta Coliseum 1st roundRecord after the first round: 2 wins-4 losses (tied for 5th–7th) Aug 13 UE Red Warriors L 63–74 PhilSports Arena 2nd round Aug 19 NU Bulldogs W 75–67 PhilSports Arena 2nd round Aug 24 FEU Tamaraws W 77–75 Ninoy Aquino Stadium 2nd round Aug 28 Ateneo Blue Eagles W 88–80 (OT) PhilSports Arena 2nd round Aug 31 UP Fighting Maroons L 67–70 Ninoy Aquino Stadium 2nd round Sep 3 Adamson Soaring Falcons W 77–74 PhilSports Arena 2nd roundRecord after the second round: 6 wins-6 losses (tied for 3rd–4th) Sep 14 Adamson Soaring Falcons W 85–71 PhilSports Arena ClassificationClassification round record: 1 win-0 losses (promoted to 3rd seed) Sep 17 UE Red Warriors W 79–75 Araneta Coliseum Semifinals Sep 21 UE Red Warriors W 82–81 Araneta Coliseum SemifinalsSemifinal round record: 2 wins-0 losses (advanced to the Finals) Sep 24 Ateneo Blue Eagles L 72–73 Araneta Coliseum Finals Sep 28 Ateneo Blue Eagles Postponed Araneta Coliseum Finals Sep 30 Ateneo Blue Eagles W 87–71 Araneta Coliseum Finals Oct 2 Ateneo Blue Eagles W 76–74 (OT) Araneta Coliseum FinalsFinal round record: 2 wins-1 loss (won 18th UAAP championship) Notes: The July 14 game was postponed due to Tropical Storm Florita, while the September 28 game was postponed due to Typhoon Milenyo.
Game summaries First round The Tigers were ranked at the start of the season as at the middle, with neither being held as a favorite or as a cellar-dweller.New coaches, players reshape teams Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2006. Popular collegiate sports website UBelt.com placed UST to be fourth.The Athletic Mind: Team-by-Team Preview (Part 4) UBelt.com . Retrieved October 6, 2006.
UP Fighting Maroons
A seesaw game all throughout, the Tigers were on the verge of victory when Fighting Maroon Marvin Cruz converted a jump shot at the top of the key, giving the Maroons the victory.
Rookie Jervy Cruz was the top scorer for UST with 16 points. Marvin Cruz (no relation) top scored for UP, with 25 points.
FEU Tamaraws
The Tigers leaned on Dylan Ababou's three-point play with 8.6 seconds remaining to pull ahead of FEU for good.
Cruz and Duncil led all scorers with 25 points each. Duncil found a wide-open Ababou to cause the three-point play; the Tigers were ahead by 14 points but the Tamaraws fought back to tie at 87-all.Eagles soar on Tiu’s trey; Tigers edge Tamaraws Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
UE Red Warriors
With a strong second quarter, the Tigers pulled away from season host UE as they dumped the Warriors at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Duncil and Cruz stepped up as they led a 32–10 run at the second quarter to give a comfortable cushion for the rest of the game.
Duncil scored 25 points, tying his career best. Cruz ended with a double-double of 22 points and ten rebounds.Tigers disarm Warriors Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
NU Bulldogs
Behind a strong outside presence, the NU Bulldogs repulsed the Growling Tigers in a high-scoring game. NU's one-two punch of Jonathan Fernandez and previous season's Mythical 5 awardee Edwin Asoro finished with a combined 44 points.
The Bulldogs converted 13 three-point field goals, a season record. Duncil made matters worse for the Tigers as he head-butted Dave Catamora with 52.9 seconds remaining.Bulldogs devour UST Tigers Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
Adamson Soaring Falcons
Behind Adamson's run-and-gun offense, the Falcons made a big run at the second quarter to prevent the Tigers from catching up. Kenneth Bono, Leo Canuday and Roel Hugnatan stepped up for the Falcons as they scored a combined 59 points.
Ababou top scored for the Tigers with 19 points, Cruz earned another double-double, with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Duncil served his one-game suspension while Cuan was injured.Falcons outrun, outgun Tigers Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
Ateneo Blue Eagles
Ateneo was assured of a first place at the end of the first round of eliminations, even though they were defeated in this game. However, the Eagles and the Tigers fought a close game, with Ateneo leading by a point at the end of the first quarter.
But it all changed in the second quarter as the Eagles pounced on the Tigers defense while limiting the Tigers in offense. By halftime, the game was over with Ateneo leading 63–36. All of the starters of Ateneo ended in double-figures, with Intal sharing game-high honors with Duncil, who was back from a one-game suspension, with 24 points.
Ateneo swept the first round of eliminations with an impressive 6–0 record.Eagles have landed, skin Tigers alive Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
Second round The Tigers started the second round tied for last place, along with the UP Fighting Maroons, NU Bulldogs and defending champions FEU Tamaraws. The Eagles are at the top of the pack with a 6–0 record. Two games behind are the Red Warriors, followed by the Adamson.
UE Red Warriors
Just like in the last three games, the Tigers managed to keep at pace with the Red Warriors, but as terrible second quarter let them down again. Only nine suited up for the Tigers, though, due to injuries and other ailments.
Cruz had another double-double performance with 17 points and 15 rebounds. James Martinez of UE led all scorers with 19 points.Bulldogs bark, bite, bludgeon Maroons Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
NU Bulldogs
With their Final Four aspirations jeopardized, the Tigers were in a must-win situation to have a chance to reach the semifinal round.
The Tigers started passively, allowing he Bulldogs to lead at halftime. But the Tigers, due to the efforts of Cruz and Cuan, caught up with the Bulldogs at the end of the third quarter. Ababou finished the business for the Tigers as they outscored NU 43–27 at the second half.
Cruz led all scorers with 18 points, and achieved his seventh double-double of the season, raking in 13 rebounds.Chasing Tigers overrun Bulldogs Philippine Star. Retrieved October 6, 2006.
FEU Tamaraws
Tied for fourth place, the Tigers are not out of the woods yet, especially at the logjam at the middle of table with Adamson, FEU and NU all having a chance of taking the last two semifinal berths – Ateneo and UE already clinched theirs.
Anthony Espiritu stepped up his game as he compensated to Duncil's and Cortez's absence due to injuries and ailments, chipping in a career-high and tournament-best 31 points to lead the Tigers into a season sweep of the defending champions.
The Tigers move up to third place with a 4–5 record. Jeff Chan topscored for FEU with 21 points. Cruz had another double-double, with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Classification game Semifinals After winning the classification game against Adamson, UST clinched the third seed, and the right to face the twice-to-beat UE Red Warriors in the semifinals.
First game Possessing the twice to beat advantage, the Warriors started passively, allowing UST to take the lead early on, with UST leading by six by halftime.
After the halftime break, the game was tightly contested; however UST pulled away at the middle of the third quarter, but with UE overtaking the Tigers, at the end of the third quarter, with UE leading, 44–40. UST would then play their own version of catching up, with the Thomasians staying within striking distance. In a game of attacks and counterattacks, the Tigers unleashed a 5–0 run, leading by as much as eight points.
The Warriors wouldn't lose easily, as they did their own 8–2 run, cutting the UST lead into two points. With 21.1 seconds left, June Cortez drove hardly to the basket scoring a fieldgoal, plus a personal foul. Cortez sank his bonus freethrow as the Red Warriors failed to erase a four-point lead, giving the Tigers the win, and another game at Season 69.Tigers Force Rubber Match Against Warriors UBelt.com
Second game
With the season on the line, the Growling Tigers and the Red Warriors faced off anew for the right to meet the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Finals; Ateneo did not need their twice-to-beat advantage as they edged out Adamson, 76–73.