my thoughts…exactly!

IN HUDDLE

Angels in the hardcourt 2?

By Beth Celi

Philippine Daily Inquirer

I was trying to call UAAP champion coach Pido Jarencio all day yesterday for a brief interview, although all there was to write about him and the championship had already been written in the last three days.

I wanted to ask Pido of a clear account of how

University

of

Santo Tomas Tiger John Lee Apil

had died last summer in an accident.

I was told that the cager had sacrificed his life trying to save two youths who were drowning.

The boys were saved, I was told, but John Lee died in the process. (That explains the handwritten number in all the Tigers’ jerseys!)

***

When this happened, the UST “fourpeat” in the early ’90s came to fore. Even I was reminded of a front page feature we had in a sports magazine titled “Angels in the Hardcourt.” At that time, people were inclined to believe that then coach Aric del Rosario and the Tigers were getting help from supernatural forces, spirits of people who had once been involved in the team like the late team manager Boy Ascue.

There were two or three other spirit helpers, but I couldn’t remember them offhand.

As related to me by one of the scribes, Tiger Dylan Ababou had a premonition that something extraordinary was going to happen to UST this season after John Lee joined the other angels last summer.

“Dadami na raw ang kakampi sa itaas,” he said.

Spoken like an angel. Was it coincidence or could there be some basis of truth to the belief that there are angels in the hardcourt helping the UST Tigers?

More angels, in fact, than Aric del Rosario’s team of 1995.

UST Tigers hailed campus superstars

By Joey Villar

The Philippine Star

10/05/2006

It was a campus bash like no other as Santo Tomas officials, fans and students hailed the Growling Tigers, the new cage heroes in a night of fireworks and music.

In fact, they were treated like superstars — Japs Cuan could easily pass up as a skin-head rockstar or Chester Taylor for a matinee idol or Dylan Ababou a member of a boy band.

But no, they’re simply members of a victorious UST squad that shocked Ateneo in one of the most memorable finals series in the history of the top collegiate league in the land.

It was celebration reminiscent of the party held exactly a decade ago when the España-based cagers capped an amazing four-peat with the 1996 crown.

"This is unbelievable, I’m just overwhelmed by the fans’ support," said Cuan, who gamely signed autographs and posed for pictures with their thousands of fans on the campus.

"I’m really happy, I couldn’t believe it would be like this," said Joseph Cortez, who will be back next season to take act as co-skipper with Jojo Duncil.

"It was like heaven," said Jun Dizon, who had some shining moments in the finals.

Fr. Ermito de Sagon, OP, UST’s representative to the UAAP board, said the team deserved all the accolade for their hard work that led to one of the most improbable title finishes in years.

"They worked hard for this moment, they deserved this," said de Sagon.

UST team manager Clarence Aytona said the team was simply astonished by the outpouring of support from the UST community.

"It’s really amazing, we hope the euphoria would carry on till next year," said Aytona.

As early as yesterday morning, winning coach Pido Jarencio and some members of the team did television interviews before returning to UST to attend a thanksgiving Mass for the team’s remarkable feat.

Incoming UST rector Fr. Ernesto Arceo, OP, celebrated the Mass, saying the school is blessed with hardworking, God-fearing players.

From there, the Tigers walked to the Rector’s Hall for a thanksgiving dinner hosted by Fr. Arceo. Acting rector Fr. Juan Ponce, OP, was also there along with top school officials.

After the dinner, a 10-minute fireworks display lit up the sky amid the cheers of thousands of students who packed the newly-renovated main building.

After getting hugged and kissed by their supporters, the Tigers gladly signed autographs and posed for souvenir pictures. Some players gave flying kisses to those who couldn’t come near, while others simply waved to the crowd.

Then they were treated to a night of fun and music, courtesy of Parokya ni Edgar, Gish, Join D’Club and Sophia who belted their popular songs as thousands of students danced the night away.

And for scaling a great height that was the UAAP championship, the Tigers would be rewarded with a trip to the

Great Wall of China

in

Beijing

.

"It was promised to them by the acting rector," said de Sagon.

“Relive 96 at 69” - The battle cry that seemed impossible especially at the start of Season ’69.

Many skeptics raised their eyebrows…but not me, especially not my sister Imee, nor anybody from our family…eh bakit ba naman tataas kilay namin eh lahat kami Thomasians HEHE (except for my Daddy…FEU Tamarraws sha eh).

Seriously, we saw the potential of this team.  From the start ang support namin, especially si Imee. Grabe ang hirap na dinaanan nya just to support this team. Out of 18 games, 4 lang hindi nya napuntahan dahil either hindi sha pinyagan, may conflict sa schedule nya or wala shang nakuhang tickets. Siguro special sila talaga kasi most of the players friend kasi nya, lalo na si Dylan Ababou, kababata pa nya. Mga 5 years old pa lang sila friends na sila. Also, read my August 11 blog. Diba I said “I am confident that UST will soon emerge as the Champion of the UAAP again.” What did I tell yah?

Well, I couldn’t blame the others to be skeptics…

Who would have thought that a team who was once in the bottom of the team standing would beat the dominant team?

Who would have thought that a team carrying a 7-6 card would make it to the finals?

Who would have thought that a team whose players often got sick and got injured would emerge as champions at the recently concluded UAAP Season 69 games?

Who would have thought that UST Tigers would end the 10-year championship drought this season at the deciding Game 3, winning 74-76 against Ateneo Blue Eagles?

The answer? It’s GOD’s miracle.

God paved the way for them.  Every win, every loss was a part of His grand plan. God gave them the courage and strength to withstand everything and they gave their trust to Him. They just let His will be done.

For the first time in the history of the UAAP, UST made a record as the only team who emerged as champions coming from the bottom. The last time we made a record was in 1993 when UST became the first team to win 14 straight games thus emerged as the Champions of that season ending the 60+/- championship drought .

There is no single superstar player in their team, everyone is a superstar. Everyone depended on each other. It’s not like one player is absent and the whole team is affected, well medyo pero ang forte nila is to step up talaga when they’re missing a team player. They have team work kasi and they have determination and they trusted each and everyone in the team that they will triumph!

What’s impressive is that they are humble, God-fearing people. When they were interviewed after the championship game, everyone thanked and gave praise to God. When Dylan Ababou was given the chance to thank whoever, he even thanked his fellow “Sienans” (he graduated from Siena College – elementary and HS). My hubby was also impressed kasi “alam nya saan sha nanggaling.”

I wasn’t able to watch the championship game but according to those who did, sabi nila cool lang daw ang Tigers. For some reason, hindi sila pressured, parang naglalaro lang sila. In fact, when Japs Cuan was about to do a free-throw, knowing that he is not that good in the 15ft line, Coach Pido Jarencio kissed his own hand and tapped it to Japs for good luck, nung hindi pa rin pumasok shoot nya, pare-pareho silang nagtatawanan lang. Kasi nga naman, the mere fact that they reached the finals is already a triumph for them kasi diba nga galing sila sa dulo ng team standing. Ang mas pressured actually ang Ateneo Blue Eagles kasi from the start sila ang top sa league. In fact before sinira ng UST yung 8-0 card nila, wala pang nakakatalo sa kanila. Duon nagkamali ang Blue Eagles. wala pang napapatunayan, nagyayabang agad. Remember in my other blog I mentioned that one player even said “panget ng season 69 wala silang kalaban kasi wala ang La Salle.” Ayan, ang tayag kasi ng lipad ninyo kaya ang sakit ng bagsak, diba? Sino tumalo sa inyo? Isang team na “kulelat” at inii-small lang ninyo. OUCH! Ang sakit, diba?

To all Thomasians, CONGRATULATIONS!

To the TIGERS, Dylan Ababou, Franciz Allera, Mark Canlas, June Cortez, Jervy Cruz, Japs Cuan, June Dizon, Jojo Duncil, Anthony Espiritu, Allan Evangelista, Mel Gile, AC Marquez, Chester Taylor, Jemal Vizcarra and Coach Pido Jarencio, good job!

A tribute to the late John Lee Apil (the official angel of UST Tigers)

——————————–

forwarded text:

“A cute, fluffy tiger lazily licks its claws and wags its tail in satisfaction. It clears its throat & coughs out a blue feather. *burp*

NICE JOB, TIGERS! Champions once again.