The UST Growling Tigers aren’t done just yet despite going through a slump late into UAAP Season 88.
From a dream start to UAAP Season 88, the UST Growling Tigers now find themselves in a tailspin late into the elimination rounds.
After their 88-89 heartbreak against the UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, the Growling Tigers are now in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The España-based squad sits in fifth place with a 5-5 record as of writing, and are in a three-way tie with the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Adamson Soaring Falcons.
Tough as their skid is, captain Nic Cabañero emphasized that the Tigers remain in the hunt for a Final Four spot and will have four more games to rediscover their mojo.
“The game must go on and mayroon pa kaming four games to redeem ourselves. Tignan niyo nga ‘yung standing, dikit dikit halos lahat ng teams, kakaiba ‘yung Final Four ngayon eh,” Cabañero said on Wednesday after the loss to State U.
“Seventh place until the third place, even nga number one eh [nothing’s guaranteed] kaya dapat focused lang kami.”
Cabañero also stressed their need to improve on free-throw shooting, with the Tigers going 28-of-52 (53 percent) from the charity stripe against State U. UST is also averaging a league-worst 58.6 percent free-throw shooting (170 out of 290) across 10 games played.
“Feel ko nadala lang kami sa pressure on that aspect. But we’re gonna work hard and gagawin namin ‘yung best namin to improve on that kasi we had the chances to win on one or two free throws, but unfortunately, nanalo talaga ‘yung UP,” he lamented.
Up next for UST will be the FEU Tamaraws this Sunday, November 9, at the UST-Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila, which will be followed by the UE Red Warriors (November 9), the Ateneo Blue Eagles (November 15), and the NU Bulldogs (November 23).
While he’s confident in their ability to bounce back, Cabañero is also aware that their last four games will be a major test of character for him and the Growling Tigers.
“Patibayan talaga ng loob ito eh. Syempre nakakalungkot and nada-down kami pero sama sama pa rin kami; ganun talaga ‘yung basketball eh,” Cabañero said. “‘Di naman pwede dalawa manalo dahil kailangan may manalo at may matalo.”
“Nandito pa rin ‘yung chemistry ng team, at dito makikita kung gaano kami katibay at kabuo.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.