my thoughts…exactly!

“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)

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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.

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