2016 UST Growling Tigers basketball team explained

Year:2016
Uaapseason:79
Team:UST Growling Tigers
Elim Rank:8
Final Rank:8
Record:3–11
Head Coach:Boy Sablan
Hcyear:1st
Asst Coach1:Tylon Dar Juan
Asst Coach2:Bam Ledesma
Captain:Louie Vigil
Captainyear:5th

The 2016 UST Growling Tigers men's basketball team represented University of Santo Tomas in the 79th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The men's basketball tournament for the school year 2016–17 began on September 4, 2016, and the host school for the season was also UST.[1]

The Tigers finished eighth and last at the end of the double round-robin eliminations, winning three games against eleven losses. It was the most number of losses in a season for the Growling Tigers since the Final Four format began in 1993.

They had an average winning margin of 3.7 points and an average losing margin of 16.2 points. Three of their losses were by blowouts, once to the Adamson Falcons in the first round by 27 points, and twice to the De La Salle Green Archers by 38 and 43 points respectively.[2] [3]

Second-year guard Marvin Lee was chosen Player of the Week by the UAAP Press Corps in the second round of eliminations for the duration of October 12–16.[4]

Roster

Depth chart

Roster changes

Subtractions

5 Janus Kyle Christian Suarez 6' 2" 3rd Out due to ACL injury
7 6' 4" 5th Graduated
8 6' 1" 5th Graduated
10 Osama Said Abdurasad 5' 10" 2nd Transferred to Arellano University
12 Janrey Garrido 5' 6" 3rd Out due to hamstring injury
20 6' 6" 5th Graduated

Additions

5 Regie Boy Basibas 6' 3" 2nd Returning from Season 77
7 Jason Strait 6' 4" 1st Arellano University High School Rookie
8 Oliver Wendell de Guzman 5' 8" 1st Rookie
12 Jon Cornelius Macasaet 6' 3" 2nd Returning from Season 77
17 William Kwabena Afoakwah 6' 6" 1st Transferred from De La Salle University
20 Tsutomu Tateishi 6' 9" 1st Promoted from Team B

Coaching changes

Boy Sablan replaced Bong dela Cruz as the Tigers' head coach following controversies surrounding the latter. Almost two months after falling short of winning the championship against the FEU Tamaraws in Season 78's Finals series, Dela Cruz became the subject of an administrative investigation stemming from complaints of physical and verbal abuse that he allegedly made against some of the players in the roster.[5] [6]

Short of calling it a preventive suspension, the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) has ordered the coach to recuse himself from team activities until a decision on his tenure was reached based on would-be findings from the investigations. As a result, Dela Cruz stopped attending team practices beginning January 25, 2016.[7] [8]

Rumors surfaced that former Growling Tiger Bal David was among those who were being considered to replace Dela Cruz, but eventually, it was Sablan who was selected to be the new coach in late May where he signed a one-year contract for the upcoming Season 79 basketball tournament.[9] [10]

Sablan was a Glowing Goldies teammate of former coach Pido Jarencio in the 1980s and also served as one of his deputies from 2006 until 2013.[11]

Coaching staff

Appointed as Sablan's deputies were Tylon Dar Juan, Bam Ledesma, Gina Francisco, Patrick Fran, Rabbi Tomacruz, John Aquino, and Kris Anthony Agarao.

Ineligibility issues

Before the start of the season, the UAAP came out with a new ruling that would lower the age limit of student-athletes from the previously accepted 25 years to 24 years. This would mean that two of the three graduating Growling Tigers would be considered over aged for the upcoming UAAP tournament. Team captain Louie Vigil, Fil-Canadian point guard Jon Sheriff and forward Kent Lao were on their final playing year in the Tigers roster, but only Vigil and Sheriff would be affected by the new rule. Sheriff turned 25 on July 31, while Vigil would be the same age on September 26.[15] [16] [17]

Vigil was already considering signing up for the PBA rookie draft in October when the UAAP decided to defer implementation of the said rule. Protests lodged by concerned schools and affected athletes were instrumental in the reversion of the age eligibility rules. This was announced after the UAAP board of trustees convened in their annual planning session in Spain.[18] [19]

Injuries

Mario Bonleon suffered a season-ending wrist injury during their September 14 game against La Salle in the first round of eliminations.[20]

Schedule and results

UAAP games

Elimination games were played in a double round-robin format and all of UST's games were televised on ABS-CBN Sports and Action and Balls.

UAAP statistics

14 12 style=26.7 78 199 39.2 7 47 14.9 45 70 64.3 4.9 style=2.9 0.8 0.5 4.4 style=14.9
Jon Sheriff 14 12 22.5 57 124 style=46.0 2 3 style=66.7 8 13 61.5 3.5 2.6 style=1.7 0.0 2.1 8.9
Jeepy Faundo 13 3 19.7 25 64 39.1 0 0 0.0 22 42 52.4 8.2 0.4 0.3 0.5 1.2 8.1
Marvin Lee 14 3 18.9 39 125 31.2 14 59 23.7 18 20 90.0 2.6 1.7 0.5 0.1 2.1 7.9
14 2 16.3 29 93 31.2 8 38 21.1 28 41 68.3 1.6 1.4 0.6 0.0 2.4 6.7
Regie Boy Basibas 12 3 13.6 23 72 31.9 1 14 7.1 16 26 61.5 4.2 0.9 0.2 0.2 1.9 5.3
Kent Lao 14 8 20.2 21 83 25.3 8 37 21.6 22 32 68.8 3.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 1.7 5.1
Mario Bonleon 3 0 8.3 6 15 40.0 2 4 50.0 0 0 0.0 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 4.7
Joco Macasaet 14 3 12.2 18 42 42.9 0 0 0.0 10 15 66.7 3.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.9 3.3
Zach Huang 14 7 9.9 11 28 39.3 0 1 0.0 15 26 57.7 2.2 0.6 0.1 0.2 1.3 2.6
William Afoakwah 14 11 19.9 12 41 29.3 0 0 0.0 9 17 52.9 style=8.8 0.3 0.3 style=0.9 1.8 2.4
Oli de Guzman 14 1 6.6 10 30 33.4 4 13 30.8 5 6 83.3 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.9 2.1
Justin Arana 8 1 7.1 4 13 30.8 0 0 0.0 4 8 50.0 1.3 0.3 0.1 0.0 1.3 1.5
Enric Caunan 8 1 6.4 4 10 40.0 0 0 0.0 2 2 style=100.0 1.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.6 1.3
Teshi Tateishi 2 0 6.7 0 1 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.0 0.5 0.0
Jason Strait 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Total 14 40.0 337 940 35.9 46 216 21.3 204 318 64.2 45.2 11.6 4.6 2.6 23.3 66.1
Opponents 14 40.0 395 997 39.6 79 302 26.2 223 324 68.8 46.8 16.5 6.5 5.5 19.5 72.4

Source: HumbleBola

Aftermath

The futureReeling from one of their worst finishes in the UAAP, the UST faithful were eagerly awaiting Steve Akomo's completion of his residency so that he can finally suit up for the Tigers and lead them back to their winning ways. The Cameroonian center has proven to be a reliable reinforcement when he led the University of the Visayas to the CESAFI Finals in 2012 against Ben Mbala who was then playing for Southwestern University.

During the Adamson–UST postgame interview at the MOA Arena last November 9, UST Coach Boy Sablan introduced Akomo to the press as the go-to guy for the Tigers alongside Joco Macasaet, Zach Huang and Regie Boy Basibas in their UAAP campaign for the next season. Macasaet, Huang, and Basibas, who were all in their second playing year, started the game for UST against the Falcons, while the veteran group of Louie Vigil, Kent Lao, Marvin Lee and Renzo Subido were benched, allegedly for disciplinary reasons. Sablan justified the action by saying that he was giving the fans a preview of the Tigers' future brand of basketball, in reference to the trio and Akomo.[21]

The pastFormer head coach Pido Jarencio, who gave the Tigers the 2006 UAAP title and a back-to-back Finals appearances in 2012 and 2013 had indirectly given the UST community a glimmer of hope when he sent out a controversial tweet from his social media account on December 6. The message reads, "I am just a call away," and a follow-up tweet had Jarencio exclaiming, "let's bring back the glory!"

Fans were quick to attribute his messages to the dismal performance of the team in the tournament, which was quite the opposite of their Finals run the previous year. Jarencio later confirmed in interviews that he was actually willing to come back to coach the team on two conditions, "if the position for head coach became vacant and if the management," and "if the UST community wanted him back." Jarencio resigned as UST's head coach in January 2014 in exchange for a coaching job in the PBA.[22] [23]

Departure of key playersOn May 4, Renzo Subido announced on Twitter his plan to skip the upcoming Season 80 tournament. He explained how he was dissatisfied with the way that he has played during the course of his three-year college career. He also added that he planned to join the PBA D-League where he was hoping to improve his skills. A week later, Mario Bonleon made a similar tweet about taking time off from the team. On May 11, he had cited experiencing burnout as one of the reasons for wanting to leave the team. He also expressed his intention to join a D-League team during his time away from the Tigers.[24] [25]
Rumored dissatisfaction with the coachThe Growling Tigers joined the 2017 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup in the summer, but failed to make it past the elimination round compiling only a single win against seven losses. This was highlighted by a 39-point loss to the Lyceum Pirates. Because of the Tigers' poor showing, various reports began to circulate about some players' growing dissatisfaction with their head coach, which resulted to speculations that Sablan was on his way out as the team's chief tactician.[26] [27]

Sablan, whose one-year contract expired on May 31, 2017, denied rumors of his replacement, pointing out that there was not much time left for a new coach to prepare the team in time for the September 9 tournament opening. Dar Juan and incoming team captain Marvin Lee have also come out to Sablan's defense. Lee denied the report that some of his teammates wanted to leave the team by explaining that the players were given permission by the coaching staff to go on leave. He was referring to Regie Boy Basibas, Zach Huang, and Joco Macasaet who were all absent during the game against the San Beda Red Lions. Dar Juan, on the other hand told reporters that Sablan was not in physical shape to coach the team after going through surgery, but added that the head coach was actually present during the May 21 game against the Letran Knights. Sablan had undergone surgery on his gallbladder on May 15 and was unable to coach the team during the tournament. Assistant coaches Tylon Dar Juan and Bam Ledesma took over practices and coaching duties.[28] [29]

According to a tweet from former Varsitarian sports editor Alex Cerado on June 20, Sablan's contract has been renewed for another year.

Awards

Louie VigilKopiko 78's Recharged Player7 Dec 2016[30]
Marvin LeePlayer of the Week12–16 Oct 2016

Players drafted into the PBA

Louie Vigil was picked 17th overall in the second round of the 2017 PBA draft by the Leo Austria-led San Miguel Beermen on October 29, 2017. Kent Lao, meanwhile applied for the draft the following year and was selected in the third round by the Caloy Garcia-coached Rain or Shine Elasto Painters as the 30th overall pick in the 2018 PBA draft on December 16, 2018.[31] [32]

2 5 17 San Miguel Beermen
3 8 30 Kent Lao Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UAAP Season 79 set for 'simple' opening ceremony at UST . ABS-CBN Sports . Naredo, Camille . 3 Sep 2016.
  2. Web site: Adamson finishes first round with blowout over UST . Sports Gateway PH . 5 Oct 2016 . 27 Oct 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027100007/http://sportsgatewayph.net/adamson-finishes-first-round-with-blowout-over-ust . dead.
  3. Web site: La Salle blasts UST for 11-0 record . Rappler . Bracher, Jane . 17 Oct 2016.
  4. Web site: Player of the Week Lee proving key to UST's playoff hopes . ABS-CBN Sports . 23 Oct 2016 . 18 Oct 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161018204523/http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2016/10/17/player-week-lee-proving-key-ust-s-playoff-hopes-16644 . dead.
  5. Web site: UST source details maltreatment, violence allegedly committed by coach Bong Dela Cruz against players . SPIN.ph . Terrado, Reuben . 28 Jan 2016.
  6. Web site: What we know about UST head coach Bong Dela Cruz . Rappler . 30 Jan 2016.
  7. Web site: UST coach Bong Dela Cruz under probe . Rappler . Ganglani, Naveen . 28 Jan 2016.
  8. Web site: No Bong dela Cruz in UST Growling Tigers practice . ABS-CBN Sports . 26 Jan 2016 . 28 Jan 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160128105806/http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2016/01/26/no-bong-dela-cruz-ust-growling-tigers-practice-8252 . dead.
  9. Web site: Bong Dela Cruz on way out as UST coach, Bal David among top candidates, say sources . SPIN.ph . Terrado, Reuben . 23 Jan 2016.
  10. Web site: UST names Sablan as new coach of Growling Tigers . ABS-CBN Sports . 1 Jun 2016.
  11. Web site: No stars; only role players, unselfish play for UST in UAAP 79 . Rappler . Bracher, Jane . 4 Sep 2016.
  12. Web site: Coach Darjuan's PBA dream lives on through his Braves . ABS-CBN Sports . Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin . 18 Jul 2016 . 14 Jul 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170714100806/http://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/news/2016/07/18/coach-darjuan-s-pba-dream-lives-braves-13442 . dead.
  13. Web site: UST's Francisco joins US program . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Payo, Jasmine . 16 Mar 2014.
  14. Web site: Former UST guard Patrick Fran embraces opportunity to give back to yellow and gold . SPIN.ph . Terrado, Reuben . 13 Sep 2016.
  15. Web site: New UST coach Sablan grapples with ineligibility of Vigil, Sheriff . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Leongson, Randolph . 1 Jun 2016.
  16. Web site: Age limit bars Sheriff from Growling Tigers’ UAAP roster . The Varsitarian . Matel, Philip Martin . Villanueva, Ralph Edwin . 1 Sep 2016.
  17. Web site: Vigil frustrated over ineligibility as UST left without veteran leader . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Leongson, Randolph . 3 Jun 2016.
  18. Web site: Louie Vigil eyes PBA jump after UAAP lowers age limit . Fox Sports Asia . Lagunzad, Jerome . 2 Jun 2016.
  19. Web site: UAAP backs out of plan to lower age limit, maintains scrapping of 'seven year window' . SPIN.ph . Terrado, Reuben . 4 Jun 2016.
  20. Web site: UST's Embons Bonleon to undergo surgery, out 6-8 months. Rappler . Ganglani, Naveen . 15 Sep 2016.
  21. Web site: Touted as 'the future,' Steve Akomo vows to do best for UST . ABS-CBN Sports . Naredo, Camille . 11 Nov 2016.
  22. Web site: Jarencio open to UST coaching return if called upon . Rappler . Bracher, Jane . 22 Dec 2016.
  23. Web site: End of an era: Pido Jarencio leaves UST, moves to Globalport . Rappler . Bracher, Jane . 27 Jan 2014.
  24. Web site: Subido to miss next UAAP . The Varsitarian . Suing, Ivan Ruiz . Anolin, Jan Carlo . 5 May 2017.
  25. Web site: Bonleon to miss next UAAP, cites 'burnout' . The Varsitarian . Suing, Ivan Ruiz . 11 May 2017.
  26. Web site: Growling Tigers defend UST head coach from 'rumors' . Tiebreaker Times . Li, Matthew Henry . 4 Jun 2017.
  27. Web site: Tigers coach on his way out? . The Varsitarian . Suing, Ivan Ruiz . 13 Jun 2017.
  28. Web site: Crisis in Espana? More players mull leaving UST Tigers . The Philippine Star . 1 Jun 2017.
  29. Web site: Team captain Lee says Tigers have no issues with coach Sablan . ABS-CBN Sports . Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin . 4 Jun 2017 . 10 Jun 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170610082732/http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/06/04/team-captain-lee-says-tigers-issues-coach-boy-26900 . dead.
  30. Web site: UAAP Season 79 Basketball Awarding Ceremony . Tiebreaker Times . Flores, Joaqui . 7 Dec 2016.
  31. Web site: Beermen make Standhardinger top pick in 2017 PBA Draft . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Leongson, Randolph . 29 Oct 2017.
  32. Web site: The 2018 PBA Rookie Draft picks . GMA News Online . Carandang, Justin Kenneth . 16 Dec 2018.

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