UST Growling Tigers and Tigresses explained

UST Growling Tigers and Tigresses
Schoolname:University of Santo Tomas
Teamlogo:Logo of the UST Growling Tigers.svg
League:UAAP
Founded:1938
Location:España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
Junior:Tiger Cubs
Titles:UAAP
Total:47
Jtitles:UAAP
Jtotal:23
Website:sportsinstitute.ust.edu.ph

The UST Growling Tigers and Tigresses are the college athletic teams representing the University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. They hold the most UAAP Overall Championships with 47 Seniors' Overall Championships (out of 76 seasons) and 23 Juniors' Overall Championships (out of 28 seasons).[1]

UST is one of four member universities that participate in all 15 sporting events of the league. They also take part in various sports leagues such as the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, the Premier Volleyball League and the UNIGAMES.

Team identity

Mascot and colors

The gold and white colors of the flag of Vatican City were adopted by the University of Santo Tomas for their school colors because of its Pontifical status.[2]

They were known as the Glowing Goldies until a name change in 1992. UST Rector Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, who was appointed in 1991 recalled in a speech to the school's administrators and faculty members during his 2007 Rector's Report on how UST's present Growling Tigers moniker came to be.

It was during the parade of school mascots in the opening ceremonies of Season 54 (1991–92) when an embarrassing incident occurred. Unlike the other member schools, UST had no mascot to represent their varsity teams and it gave the host school a hard time in coming up with a suitable representation for the Glowing Goldies. A “fat Dominican friar” who was carrying bags of gold had come out with the other mascots and drew a lot of laughter from the crowd in attendance.

Fr. De la Rosa later instructed PE moderator Bro. Rolando Atienza to conduct a naming activity for a new mascot.[3] Mrs. Felicitas Francisco, directress of the PE department, suggested the tiger as the new mascot due to its gold and white colors.[4]

When it was UST's turn to be host in Season 55 (1992–93), the new growling tiger mascot debuted in the opening ceremonies. Since then, Mrs. Francisco always donned her tiger-striped coat when she attends UST playoff games. The High School boys' team followed suit by changing their name from the "Golden Nuggets" to the "Tiger Cubs".

The Manila Central University Purple Owls once used the tiger mascot (with purple and gold colors) when they participated in the UAAP from 1952 until their pullout in 1962.[5]

Varsity team monikers

The names of the University of Santo Tomas collegiate varsity teams that participate in the 15 UAAP sporting events are shown in the table below.

SportMenWomenBoysGirls
BasketballGrowling Tigresses Growling Tiger Cubs Growling Tigress Cubs
VolleyballJunior Golden Spikers Junior Golden Tigresses
Beach volleyballTiger Sands Lady Spikers Junior Tiger Sands Junior Golden Tigresses
FootballGolden Booters Junior Golden Booters No team
BaseballGolden Sox No team Junior Golden Sox No team
SoftballNo team Softbelles No team No team
JudoGolden Judokas Lady Judokas Junior Golden Judokas Junior Lady Judokas
TaekwondoTiger Jins Lady Jins Junior Tiger Jins No team
FencingTiger Fencers Lady Fencers Junior Tiger Fencers Junior Lady Fencers
SwimmingTiger Sharks Lady Tiger Sharks Junior Tiger Sharks Junior Lady Tiger Sharks
Track and fieldTiger Tracksters Lady Tracksters Junior Tiger Tracksters No team
BadmintonGolden Shuttlers Lady Shuttlers No team No team
TennisTiger Tennisters Lady Tennisters No team No team
Table tennisTiger Paddlers Lady Paddlers Junior Tiger Paddlers No team
ChessMale Woodpushers Female Woodpushers Junior Tiger Woodpushers No team
ArnisGolden Arnisadors Lady Arnisadors Junior Golden Arnisadors No team
CheerleadingSalinggawi Dance TroupeJHS Pep Squad
StreetdancePrimeGalvanize
EsportTeletigers

Basketball

See main article: UST Growling Tigers basketball.

The UST men's and boys' basketball teams were first formed in the year of the NCAA's foundation in 1924. UST won their first and only NCAA men's championship in 1930.

In the UAAP, they have the most combined championships with 40 from the men's, women's and boys' teams. The men's total of 18 titles is tied with the UE Red Warriors' for the second most championships behind FEU's 20.[6]

In 1993 the Growling Tigers finished the double-round eliminations with a rare 14–0 sweep and were declared automatic champions of the UAAP Season 56 men's tournament. This was the start of the Growling Tigers' four-peat championship run in the UAAP. The Tigers faced and defeated the De La Salle Green Archers for three consecutive finals series.[7]

UST's last championship before the sweep was in 1967 when they were declared co-champions with UE in Season 30.[8]

The Tiger Cubs and the Tigresses also have successful basketball programs with each team having a total of 11 UAAP championships.

In 1994, the men's, women's and juniors' teams won the UAAP Season 57 basketball championship in their respective divisions. This was the only time that a triple championship was achieved in the UAAP. UST also won double championships in Seasons 58 and 69 with the Growling Tigers and the Tigresses winning both their division titles in both years.

UST's off-season training includes participation in summer basketball tournaments. The Tiger Cubs regularly join the MILCU Summer Showcase, Smart City HOOPS, Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup juniors tournament and the PCABL Freego Cup. The Tigresses recently played in the Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament and Breakdown Basketball Invitational tournament, while the Growling Tigers continue to participate in the MILCU Under-25 tournaments, the PBA D-League, Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, Breakdown Basketball Invitational, Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament, the Millennium Open Basketball championship, as well as pocket tournaments in the provinces such as the Kim Lope Asis Invitational Basketball Tournament in Bayugan, the Kadayawan Basketball Invitational in Davao City, and the Republica Cup collegiate tournament in Malolos. They have also competed in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, an annual postseason tournament for schools that topped their respective leagues.

The UST Tigress Cubs girls' basketball team were declared co-champions with Adamson in Season 82's inaugural exhibition tournament after the deciding Game three of their finals series was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tigresses finished second in the four-team eliminations with 4 wins and 2 losses behind the Lady Falcons' perfect 6–0 record.[9]

UAAP seasons

Season Year Men Women Boys
2 1939 Champions
3 1940 Champions
9 1946 Champions
10 1947 Champions
11 1948 Champions
12 1949 Champions
13 1950 Runners-up
14 1951 Champions
15 1952 Champions
16 1953 Champions
17 1954 Champions
18 1955 Champions
19 1956 Runners-up
20 1957 Runners-up
22 1959 Champions
23 1960 3rd place
24 1961 Runners-up
27 1964 Champions
28 1965 Runners-up
29 1966 Runners-up
30 1967 Champions
31 1968 Runners-up
32 1969 Runners-up
34 1971 Runners-up
39 1976 Runners-up
40 1977 Runners-up
41 1978 Runners-up
42 1979 Runners-up Champions
43 1980 Runners-up Runners-up
44 1981 Runners-up
45 1982 Runners-up Champions
46 1983 Runners-up
Season Year Men Women Boys
47 1984 Runners-up Champions
48 1985 Runners-up Champions
49 1986 Runners-up Runners-up
50 1987 Champions Runners-up
51 1988 Champions Runners-up
52 1989 Champions
53 1990 Champions
54 1991 3rd place Runners-up
55 1992 Champions
56 1993 Champions Runners-up
57 1994 Champions Champions Champions
58 1995 Champions Champions Runners-up
59 1996 Champions Champions
60 1997 3rd place Runners-up
61 1998 Champions
62 1999 Runners-up Runners-up
63 2000 Runners-up
64 2001 Champions
69 2006 Champions Champions
70 2007 3rd place
71 2008 3rd place
72 2009 3rd place
73 2010 3rd place Runners-up
74 2011 3rd place
75 2012 Runners-up 3rd place
76 2013 Runners-up 3rd place
78 2015 Runners-up
80 2016 3rd place 3rd place
81 2017 3rd place
82 2019 Runners-up Runners-up
Total 1st place 18 11 11

Other tournaments

Men

Women


Boys

Notable players

MVP awardees
Season Year Men Women Boys
15 1952 Ning Ramos
26 1963 Valentino Rosabal
29 1966 Danny Florencio
32 1969 Garry Artajos
42 1979 Edmund Yee
56 1993 Dennis Espino
57 1994 Dennis Espino Gerard Francisco
58 1995 Chris Cantonjos
59 1996 Emmerson Oreta
61 1998 Alwyn Espiritu
63 2000 Jun Cortez
64 2001 Jun Cortez
69 2006 Jojo Duncil Charmaine Canuel
70 2007 Jervy Cruz
71 2008 Marichu Bacaro
72 2009 Dylan Ababou
73 2010 Kevin Ferrer
80 2017 CJ Cansino
81 2018 Grace Irebu
82 2019 Soulémane Chabi Yo Grace Irebu
Rookie of the year awardees
Season Year Men Women Boys
24 1961 Valentino Rosabal
58 1995 Gerard Francisco
65 2002 Japs Cuan
72 2009 Jeric Teng Kevin Ferrer
76 2013 Aaron Reyes
81 2018 Tantoy Ferrer
82 2019 Mark Nonoy

3x3 basketball

The 3x3 basketball competition was introduced in Season 80 as a demonstration sport.[10] UST did not join the men's inaugural contest, but the Growling Tigresses composed of Jhenn Angeles, Angel Anies, Karla Manuel and Carol Sangalang placed third behind the Adamson Lady Falcons and champions NU Lady Bulldogs.[11]

In its second year, the UST Growling Tigers ended up tied with the UP Fighting Maroons and the De La Salle Green Archers at 3 wins and 3 losses behind the undefeated Ateneo Blue Eagles. They were represented by Renzo Subido, Soulémane Chabi Yo, Dave Ando and Rhenz Abando. The women's team of Sai Larosa, Tantoy Ferrer, Lon Rivera and Carol Sangalang also tied UE and Adamson's 4–3 record behind the undefeated and defending champions, the NU Lady Bulldogs.[12]

Beginning in Season 82, the 3x3 competition is set to become an official tournament in the UAAP. The sport, with the participation of all eight UAAP schools will begin in March 2020.[13]

Volleyball

See main article: UST Golden Spikers volleyball and Golden Tigresses volleyball. The UST Tiger Spikers have 19 UAAP men's volleyball championships, while the Golden Tigresses have 16 women's volleyball crowns and the Junior Tigresses have six girls' volleyball titles. The Tigresses were champions for seven consecutive years from Seasons 47 thru 53,[14] while both the men's and girls' teams achieved a three-peat in Seasons 70, 71 and 72. The Junior Tiger Spikers have one UAAP crown which they won in Season 80.

The Tiger Spikers also participate in the Spikers' Turf, a preseason league where they finished second in the 2018 Collegiate Conference[15] and third on two occasions in 2016 and 2017. The Golden Tigresses have had better success in the women's preseason tournaments, having won the most titles among collegiate teams in the Premier Volleyball League with six, beginning at the inaugural tournament in 2004 when the league was still known as the Shakey's V-League.[16] The Junior Tigresses have won four championships in the Shakey's Girls' Volleyball League.[17]

The men's team were back-to-back UNIGAMES champions in 2016[18] and 2017, while the Tigresses have a total of six volleyball championships, beginning in 2009 and capped by a three-peat from 2016 until 2018.[19]

UAAP seasons

Season Year Men Women Girls Boys
15 1952 Champions
21 1958 Champions
22 1959 Champions
26 1963 Champions
30 1967 Champions
36 1973 Champions
37 1974 Champions
38 1975 Champions
39 1976 Champions Champions
43 1980 Champions
47 1984 Champions
48 1985 Champions Champions
49 1986 Champions Champions
50 1987 Champions
51 1988 Runners-up Champions
52 1989 Champions Champions
53 1990 Runners-up Champions
55 1992 Champions Runners-up
56 1993 Champions
57 1994 Runners-up Runners-up 3rd place 3rd place
58 1995 Champions Runners-up Runners-up
59 1996 Runners-up Champions 3rd place
60 1997 Runners-up Champions Runners-up Runners-up
Season Year Men Women Girls Boys
61 1998 Champions Runners-up Runners-up
62 1999 Runners-up Runners-up Runners-up Runners-up
63 2000 Champions 3rd place
64 2001 Runners-up Runners-up 3rd place
65 2002 Champions 3rd place Runners-up 3rd place
66 2003 3rd place Champions 3rd place
67 2004 Runners-up Champions 3rd place
68 2005 Runners-up Runners-up Runners-up
69 2006 3rd place Champions Champions Runners-up
70 2007 Champions 3rd place Runners-up
71 2008 Champions 3rd place Champions 3rd place
72 2009 Champions Champions Champions Runners-up
73 2010 Champions Runners-up Runners-up
74 2011 Runners-up 3rd place 3rd place Runners-up
75 2012 3rd place
76 2013 Champions 3rd place
77 2014 3rd place Runners-up
78 2015 Runners-up Runners-up
79 2016 3rd place Runners-up Runners-up
80 2017 Runners-up Champions
81 2018 Runners-up 3rd place 3rd place
82 2019 3rd place
Total 1st place 19 16 6 1

Other tournaments

Men


Girls

Women

Notable players

MVP awardees
Season Year Men Women Girls
59 1996 Roxanne Pimentel
60 1997 Johanna Botor
61 1998 Oliver John Manlapaz
65 2002 Anthony Irvin Guiao
69 2006 Venus Bernal
70 2007 Nazareno Roque Alyssa Valdez
71 2008 Ray Karl Dimaculangan Alyssa Valdez
72 2009 Henry James Pecaña Rhea Dimaculangan Alyssa Valdez
73 2010 John Paul Torres
Jayson Ramos
74 2011 Jayson Ramos
75 2012 Mark Gil Alfafara
76 2013 EJ Laure
78 2015 Eya Laure
81 2018 Cherry Rondina
Rookie of the year awardees
Season Year Men Women Girls Boys
67 2004 Mary Jean Balse
68 2005 Lilet Mabbayad
69 2006 Marlon Macabulos
70 2007 Jayson Ramos
71 2008 Jelly Buan
72 2009 Jaja Santiago
75 2012 Eya Laure
77 2014 EJ Laure
80 2017 Milena Alessandrini CJ Segui
81 2018 Eya Laure
82 2019 Ela Raagas
86 2023 Angeline Poyos

Beach volleyball

The UAAP beach volleyball competition was introduced as a demonstration sport in Season 69 and was made into an official sport in Season 72. The UST Tiger Sands men's team who were formerly called the Tiger Spikers won the tournament in Season 71,[20] while the women's team had two unofficial third place finishes in Seasons 69 and 71.[21]

The Lady Spikers won their first championship in Season 74 after defeating Ateneo in the finals.[22] In 2014, Cherry Rondina and Rica Rivera won the Season 77 championship in their rookie year. The Lady Spikers were defeated by Adamson the previous year.[23] Rondina, who was named MVP that year went on to win three more championships and the same number of MVP awards until Season 81.

The Lady Spikers made history by winning their fourth-straight UAAP beach volleyball championship in Season 82. They hold the most UAAP titles won with seven. They won back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012 and then they went on to achieve a four-peat from 2016 to 2019 with an undefeated 27–0 win–loss record.

The Tiger Sands have a total of five championships, having won back-to-back in Seasons 81 and 82.

UAAP seasons

Season Year Men Women
69 2006 3rd place
70 2007 3rd place
71 2008 Champions 3rd place
72 2009 Champions
73 2010 Runners-up
74 2011 Runners-up Champions
75 2012 Champions
76 2013 Runners-up Runners-up
77 2014 Runners-up Champions
78 2015 Runners-up
79 2016 Champions Champions
80 2017 Runners-up Champions
81 2018 Champions Champions
82 2019 Champions Champions
Total 1st place 5 7

Other tournaments

Men

Women

Notable players

Football

See main article: UST Lady Booters. The formation of UST's football team dates back to the early days of the NCAA. The Golden Booters have a combined total of 35 NCAA and UAAP championships.[24] They won four straight NCAA titles from 1926 until 1929. The men's team who were sparringly called the Growling Booters and the Tiger Booters achieved a three-peat in the UAAP from 1991 to 1993. They last won the championship in 2006.

The Golden Booters made it back to the finals and ended up as runners-up to the undefeated UP Maroon Booters in Season 80.[25] Before Season 77, UST had only missed the playoffs once in a span of 13 years.[26]

The UST Lady Booters won their first UAAP title in 2009, 14 years after women's football became an official sport in the league.[27] They won the championship again in 2011.

The Juniors team that plays in a small pool of four teams (the number of competing schools increased to five with the entry of Nazareth School in Season 80) have yet to get a podium finish since boys' football became a regular sport in UAAP Season 72.

UST's off-season training includes participation in the UNIGAMES, Ang Liga, the PFF Women's League, the Pinas Cup, and the Metro Manila Girls Football Association.

UAAP seasons

Season Year Men Women
1 1938 Champions
50 1987 Champions
52 1989 Runners-up
53 1990 3rd place
54 1991 Champions
55 1992 Champions
56 1993 Champions
57 1994 Runners-up
58 1995 3rd place
59 1996 3rd place
60 1997 3rd place
61 1998 Runners-up
62 1999 Champions Runners-up
63 2000 3rd place 3rd place
64 2001 Runners-up
65 2002 Runners-up
Season Year Men Women
66 2003 3rd place 3rd place
67 2004 Runners-up 3rd place
68 2005 3rd place Runners-up
69 2006 Champions Runners-up
70 2007 3rd place 3rd place
71 2008 Champions
72 2009 Runners-up Runners-up
73 2010 Runners-up Runners-up
74 2011 Runners-up Champions
75 2012 3rd place
76 2013 3rd place Runners-up
79 2016 Runners-up
80 2017 Runners-up Runners-up
81 2018 3rd place
Total 1st place 7 2

Other tournaments

Men

Women

Notable players

Judo

The UST Lady Judokas team, headed by Head Coach Gerald Arce is the defending champion of the UAAP Women's Judo competition. The Lady Judokas won five titles in the 6 seasons, having first won in Seasons 73, 74, and 75. After they suffered a 4th-place finish in Season 76, they bounced-back and became the back-to-back champions of the UAAP from Seasons 77 and 78.[28]

Cheerdance

See main article: article and UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. The official Pep Squad and Drumline, the UST Yellow Jackets, and the official dance troupe, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe have won the UAAP Cheerdance Competition a league-leading eight times and holds the record for the longest championship run for five consecutive years (2002 to 2006). Their closest rival is the UP Pep Squad, which has been a consistent runner-up until 2007 when they snatched the title by a very thin margin from the Salinggawi Dance Troupe, which finished second.[29]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UST's overall UAAP championship streak snapped . TomasinoWeb. Saynes, Josiah Darren G. . March 27, 2013.
  2. Web site: The favored university: Why all popes visiting PH stop by UST . Yahoo! Southeast Asia. Yanoria, Luigene F. . January 13, 2015.
  3. Web site: Rector sets 13-point agenda . The Varsitarian. Cordon, John Constantine G. . November 7, 2007.
  4. Web site: 'Mommy Tiger' bids goodbye . The Varsitarian. Evite, Diana Jean B. . July 12, 2011 . July 12, 2011.
  5. Web site: Warriors win UAAP crown . RP Basketball Photos & Articles. RP Basketball Digest . August 3, 2012.
  6. Web site: The winningest schools in the UAAP Senior's Basketball history . Courtside Philippines. Magallon, Reynald I. . August 24, 2019.
  7. Web site: UST force to reckon with despite loss of top cagers . The Philippine Star. July 8, 2001.
  8. Web site: As Ateneo targets perfect season, let's look back at last team to pull it off . SPIN.ph. Leongson, Randolph B. . November 16, 2019.
  9. Web site: UST, Adamson are co-champions in girls' basketball . ABS-CBN Sports. March 15, 2020.
  10. Web site: GDLs, Melecio headline participants in first-ever UAAP 3x3 . ABS-CBN Sports. Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin . March 4, 2018.
  11. Web site: FEU, NU rule inaugural UAAP 3x3 tilt . ABS-CBN Sports. March 4, 2018.
  12. Web site: Ateneo Blue Eagles, NU Lady Bulldogs reign supreme in UAAP 3x3 . Rappler. Isaga, John Remil . March 3, 2019 . March 3, 2019.
  13. Web site: UAAP adds 3x3 basketball, high school beach volleyball to Season 82 calendar . ABS-CBN Sports. September 1, 2019.
  14. Web site: Is this best UAAP volleyball team ever? Meet Natalie Cruz and fellow UST Tigresses greats. SPIN.ph. Lozada, Mei-lin. August 28, 2015.
  15. Web site: Runners-up no more: NU Bulldogs rip UST Tiger Spikers to claim PVL title . SPIN.ph. Agcaoili, Lance . September 12, 2018.
  16. Web site: UST posts worst showing in V-League . The Varsitarian. June 24, 2014 . June 24, 2014.
  17. Web site: UST foils NU, cops Shakey's girls crown . The Manila Times. July 8, 2016.
  18. Web site: UST Tiger Spikers gear up of Unigames title defense after runner-up finish in PVL . SPIN.ph. Agcaoili, Lance . September 18, 2018.
  19. Web site: UNIGAMES: UST Tigresses 3-peat champions in volleyball . PanayNews. Co, Adrian Stewart . November 3, 2018 . November 3, 2018.
  20. Web site: UST leads UAAP overall race . The Varsitarian. November 15, 2008 . November 15, 2008.
  21. Web site: Lady Spikers get podium . The Varsitarian. Dumaual, Raymond Jude M. . November 14, 2006.
  22. Web site: UST slightly ahead in overall race . The Varsitarian. October 4, 2011 . October 4, 2011.
  23. Web site: Lady Spikers regain title, Tigers Spikers second anew . The Varsitarian. Abello, Angelica P. . September 29, 2014 . September 29, 2014.
  24. Web site: UAAP 80 Men's Football: UP, UST dispute men's football championship . ABS-CBN Sports. May 2, 2018.
  25. Web site: UAAP 80 Men's Football: UP reigns supreme for the second time in three years . ABS-CBN Sports. Honasan, Jose Santino . May 3, 2018.
  26. Web site: Golden Booters crash out of Final Four contention; Lady Booters miss finals . The Varsitarian. Basco, Karl Cedrick G. . February 15, 2015 . February 15, 2015.
  27. Web site: Lady Booters win first UAAP title . The Varsitarian. March 7, 2009 . March 7, 2009.
  28. Featured Team: UST Lady Judokas . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/rcNc7ycOsPg . December 21, 2021 . live. March 11, 2016 . Sports37 . Ramos . Ryan. . March 9, 2016. tl.
  29. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/60757/UP-pep-squad-is-2007-UAAP-cheer-dance-champion UP Pep Squad is 2007 UAAP cheerdance champion

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