The last time University of Santo Tomas won the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball title was in 2006.
Since then, the Growling Tigers have been trying — and failing — to rediscover the formula for success.
Well, the wait may be over if it’s up to returning mentor Pido Jarencio, the architect of that UST championship run 17 years ago. He swore they have found their missing piece in his former teammate, Alfrancis Chua.
“If it weren’t for Boss Alfrancis Chua, the partnership might not happen. In terms of support, we know that the San Miguel group is a winner, especially in basketball,” Jarencio said.
He was referring to the support UST is now getting from Chua, the SMC sports director, who had just been appointed UST’s special assistant to the Rector for Sports.
“It was a big deal that San Miguel is helping the UST community, especially Boss Al. He would attend practices and give out pointers to the players,” said Jarencio, adding that they have tapped the services of 6-foot-4 Vince Ventulan for Season 86 of the UAAP.
Ventulan, a Filipino-American winger from Florida, will play for just one season but he is expected to make an impact to the Tigers squad that already has SJ Moore and Mark Llemit.
“Vince is a good addition to us because he can provide athleticism to our team,” said Jarencio, referring to the 23-year-old forward whose father hails from Cebu and mother from Bohol.
Jarencio stressed that with Ventulan, Moore and Llemit in the roster, together with a potent backer in Chua helping the team, they can now contend against giant schools like Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and University of the Philippines.
Chua was appointed by UST last Monday making the partnership official after he personally appeared before Rector Fr. Richard Ang, OP, Institute of Physical Education and Athletics director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP, and the UST men’s basketball team.
Supporters of UST are excited about the Tigers’ potential, especially after seeing what he did to another Dominican-ran school, Letran College.
After tapping Chua in 2019, the Knights saw success as they captured three straight National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball titles in Seasons 95, 97 and 98.
Jarencio was even part of the coaching staff of tactician Bonnie Tan, who will now serve as UST consultant.
“We just need to tweak things. At the same time, the confidence is high because Boss Al has our backs. Everyone, from the coaches, players and the management, are all on one page,” Jarencio said.
“We’re on track. We might not have joined some preseason tournaments because we are fixing our system so that each player is comfortable with it. I’m not promising anything but I know they will sweat a lot against us.”
