2016 UST Growling Tigers men's basketball team

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]

2016 UST Growling Tigers men's basketball
Record
Elims rank#8
Final rank#8
2016 record3–11
Head coachRodil S. Sablan (1st season)
Assistant coachesTylon Filipe M. Dar Juan
Juben E. Ledesma
Ma. Genevieve R. Francisco
CaptainLouie Vigil (5th season)

The Tigers finished eighth and last at the end of the double-round 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,[2] and twice to the De La Salle Green Archers by 38 and 43 points[3] respectively.

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

UST Growling Tigers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Year High School
PF 5 Basibas, Regie Boy C. 6'3" (1.91m) 2nd Arellano University High School
PG 6 Sheriff, Sheak Jamil, Jr. J. 5'9" (1.75m) 5th Loyola Catholic Secondary School
PF 7 Strait, Jason M. 6'4" (1.93m) 1st Arellano University High School
SG 8 De Guzman, Oliver Wendell D. 5'8" (1.73m) 1st Nazareth School of National University
SG 9 Lee, Dean Marvin M. 5'8" (1.73m) 2nd Far Eastern University–Diliman
PG 10 Subido, Henri Lorenzo P. 5'9" (1.75m) 3rd De La Salle Santiago Zobel School
SF 11 Caunan, Enrique, Jr. P. 6'4" (1.93m) 2nd Colegio de San Juan de Letran
PF 12 Macasaet, Jon Cornelius E. 6'3" (1.91m) 2nd San Sebastian College-Recoletos
PF 13 Huang, Zachary Lance Eden T. 6'3" (1.91m) 2nd Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu
SG 14 Bonleon, Mario Emmanuel, Jr. T.  6'3" (1.91m) 2nd La Salle Greenhills
C 15 Faundo, Jeepy C. 6'6" (1.98m) 4th José Rizal University
PF 16 Arana, Justin P. 6'5" (1.96m) 2nd Basud National High School
C 17 Afoakwah, William Kwabena 6'6" (1.98m) 1st Kumasi
SG 18 Vigil, Louie Philippe V. (C) 6'3" (1.91m) 5th José Rizal University
SF 19 Lao, Kent Jefferson S. 6'4" (1.93m) 5th Saint Stephen's High School
C 20 Tateishi, Tsutomu M. 6'9" (2.06m) 1st Ateneo de Davao University
Head coach
  • Rodil S. Sablan
Assistant coach(es)
  • Tylon Filipe M. Dar Juan
  • Juben E. Ledesma
  • Ma. Genevieve R. Francisco
  • Patrick Roy Y. Fran
  • Julian Rabbi M. Tomacruz
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • John Oswald A. Aquino
  • Kris Anthony T. Agarao

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Team depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C William Afoakwah Jeepy Faundo Teshi Tateishi
PF Zach Huang Joco Macasaet Justin Arana
SF Kent Lao Enric Caunan Jason Strait
SG Louie Vigil Marvin Lee Regie Boy Basibas
PG Jon Sheriff Renzo Subido Oli de Guzman

Roster changes

With the graduation of Kevin Ferrer, Ed Daquioag and Cameroonian Karim Abdul, sports analysts have predicted UST to miss out on a final four finish in Season 79.[5]

Subtractions

Pos.#POBPlayerHeightYearHigh schoolNotes
SG 5 Janus Kyle Christian L. Suarez 6' 2" 3rd Ateneo de Manila Out due to ACL injury
SF 7 Kevin M. Ferrer 6' 4" 5th University of Santo Tomas Graduated
SG 8 Eduardo D. Daquioag, Jr. 6' 0" 5th RTU Laboratory High School Graduated
PG 10 Osama Said S. Abdurasad 5' 10" 2nd Kaunlaran High School Transferred to Arellano University
PG 12 Janrey L. Garrido 5' 6" 3rd Hope Christian High School Out due to hamstring injury
C 20 Karim Abdul 6' 6" 5th Sta. Clara International Academy Graduated

Additions

Pos.#POBPlayerHeightYearHigh schoolNotes
PF 5 Regie Boy C. Basibas 6' 3" 2nd Arellano University High School Returning from Season 77
PF 7 Jason M. Strait 6' 4" 1st Arellano University High School Rookie
SG 8 Oliver Wendell D. de Guzman 5' 8" 1st Nazareth School of National University Rookie
PF 12 Jon Cornelius E. Macasaet 6' 3" 2nd San Sebastian College-Recoletos Returning from Season 77
C 17 William Kwabena Afoakwah 6' 6" 1st Kumasi Transferred from De La Salle University
C 20 Tsutomu M. Tateishi 6' 9" 1st Ateneo de Davao University From Team B

Coaching changes

Boy Sablan replaced Bong dela Cruz as the head coach following controversies surrounding the latter.[6]

Almost two months after falling short of winning the title against the FEU Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 78 men's basketball finals, 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.[7]

Short of calling it a preventive suspension, the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) through their director Fr. Ermito de Sagon, have asked him to inhibit himself from team activities until after investigations were completed and a decision on his tenure has been made.[8]

As a result, Dela Cruz stopped attending team practices beginning January 25, 2016.[9]

Rumors surfaced that Bal David was among those who were being considered to replace Dela Cruz,[10] 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 UAAP Season 79 basketball tournament to be hosted by UST.[11]

Dela Cruz was not terminated, but instead, management decided to no longer renew his contract which expired on June 1, 2016.[12]

Sablan was a Glowing Goldies teammate of former PBA player Pido Jarencio in the 1980s, who he also served under when he was the head coach of the Tigers from 2006 until 2013.[13]

Coaching staff

The members of the Growling Tigers' new coaching staff were:

  • Bam Ledesma, from the coaching staff of the Tigresses basketball team.
  • Patrick Fran, a former Growling Tiger and PBA player, as well as a member of the coaching staff at the Meralco Bolts in the PBA.[16]
  • Rabbi Tomacruz, a former Glowing Goldie and PBA player who played for San Miguel during the 1990s was also a member of Jarencio's coaching staff.
  • John Aquino, who has been the strength & conditioning coach of the Meralco Bolts in the PBA since 2010.
  • Kris Anthony Agarao, the strength & conditioning coach of the Growling Tigers since 2012.

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 overaged for the upcoming UAAP tournament.[17]

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,[18] while Vigil would be the same age on September 26.[19]

Vigil was already considering signing up for the PBA rookie draft in October[20] 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.[21]

Preseason tournaments

2016 MILCU x Got Skills U25 Summer Showcase

  • Tournament record: 2W–2L
DateOpponentScoreVenueTop scorer
Apr 19 NU Bulldogs L 49–56 Enderun Colleges Gym Vigil - 18 pts
Apr 27 Enderun Titans L 53–60 Enderun Colleges Gym Lao - 12 pts
May 12 Lyceum Pirates W 62–33 Enderun Colleges Gym Lee - 14 pts
May 14 FEU Tamaraws W 50–42 Enderun Colleges Gym Subido - 13 pts

1st Recoletos de Cebu Invitational Cup

  • Tournament rank: Runners-up (3W–1L)
DateTimeOpponentScoreVenueTop scorer
Jul 14 2:00 pm USJ-R Jaguars W 73–60 Recoletos Coliseum–Basak Vigil - 12 pts
Jul 15 2:00 pm UV Green Lancers W 84–48 Recoletos Coliseum–Basak Bonleon - 15 pts
Jul 16 4:00 pm University of San Carlos Warriors W 63–58 Recoletos Coliseum–Basak Subido - 10 pts
Championship game
Jul 17 4:00 pm USJ-R Jaguars L 86–89 Recoletos Coliseum–Basak Vigil - 20 pts

Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

Buddha Light International Association Cup–Taiwan

  • Tournament rank: 7th
DateOpponentResult
Aug 17 Hsing Wu University L
Aug 18 University of Tsukuba L
Aug 19 McMaster University L 70–93

UAAP Season 79 games results

Elimination games were played in a double round-robin format. All games were aired on ABS-CBN Sports and Action.

Date Time Opponent Venue Result Record
First round of eliminations
Sep 4 4:00 p.m. Ateneo Blue Eagles Smart Araneta ColiseumQuezon City L 69–73 0–1
Game Highs: Points: Vigil – 21; Rebounds: Macasaet, Vigil – 9; Assists: Subido – 6
Sep 10 2:00 p.m. UE Red Warriors Smart Araneta ColiseumQuezon City W 88–87 1–1
Game Highs: Points: Subido – 26; Rebounds: Macasaet – 10; Assists: Sheriff – 4
Sep 14 4:00 p.m. De La Salle Green Archers Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 62–100[lower-alpha 1] 1–2
Game Highs: Points: Subido – 18; Rebounds: Afoakwah – 10; Assists: Subido – 4
Sep 17 2:00 p.m. UP Fighting Maroons Smart Araneta ColiseumQuezon City W 83–77 2–2
Game Highs: Points: Vigil – 18; Rebounds: Faundo – 9; Assists: Vigil – 7
Sep 25 4:00 p.m. NU Bulldogs Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 68–75 2–3
Game Highs: Points: Sheriff – 16; Rebounds: Afoakwah – 15; Assists: Subido, Vigil – 2
Oct 1 4:00 p.m. FEU Tamaraws Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 72–79 2–4
Game Highs: Points: Vigil – 16; Rebounds: Basibas – 8; Assists: Lee – 5
Oct 5 2:00 p.m. Adamson Falcons Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 52–79 2–5
Game Highs: Points: Lao – 13; Rebounds: Afoakwah – 12; Assists: Sheriff, Vigil – 3
Sixth place after 1st round (2 wins–5 losses)
Second round of eliminations
Oct 8 2:00 p.m. UE Red Warriors Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 61–71 2–6
Game Highs: Points: Vigil – 21; Rebounds: Afoakwah – 21; Assists: Sheriff – 4
Oct 12 4:00 p.m. FEU Tamaraws Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 48–59 2–7
Game Highs: Points: Vigil – 18; Rebounds: Faundo – 17; Assists: Vigil, Huang, Faundo – 2
Oct 15 4:00 p.m. NU Bulldogs Smart Araneta ColiseumQuezon City W 73–69 3–7
Game Highs: Points: Lee – 22; Rebounds: Afoakwah – 13; Assists: Vigil – 5
Oct 23 2:00 p.m. De La Salle Green Archers Smart Araneta ColiseumQuezon City L 56–99 3–8
Game Highs: Points: Vigil – 18; Rebounds: Afoakwah – 11; Assists: Vigil – 3
Nov 6 4:00 p.m. UP Fighting Maroons Filoil Flying V CentreSan Juan L 69–74 3–9
Game Highs: Points: Vigil – 16; Rebounds: Faundo – 14; Assists: Sheriff – 4
Nov 9 4:00 p.m. Adamson Falcons Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 61–76 3–10
Game Highs: Points: Sheriff – 13; Rebounds: Faundo – 9; Assists: Sheriff, Huang, Vigil – 2
Nov 12 2:00 p.m. Ateneo Blue Eagles Mall of Asia ArenaPasay L 64–74 3–11
Game Highs: Points: Vigil – 14; Rebounds: Afoakwah, Sheriff – 7; Assists: Lee – 5
Eighth place at 3 wins–11 losses (1 win–6 losses in the 2nd round)

Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

  1. Bonleon suffered a season-ending wrist injury after their September 14 game against the De La Salle Green Archers[22]

Individual statistics

Player GP GS MPG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3FG% FTM FTA FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TOT PPG
Louie Vigil141226.77819939.2%74714.9%457064.3%4.92.90.80.54.414.9
Jon Sheriff141222.55712446.0%2366.7%81361.5%3.52.61.70.02.18.9
Jeepy Faundo13319.7256439.1%000.0%224252.4%8.20.40.30.51.28.1
Marvin Lee14318.93912531.2%145923.7%182090.0%2.61.70.50.12.17.9
Renzo Subido14216.3299331.2%83821.1%284168.3%1.61.40.60.02.46.7
Regie Boy Basibas12313.6237231.9%1147.1%162661.5%4.20.90.20.21.95.3
Kent Lao14820.2218325.3%83721.6%223268.8%3.20.20.20.11.75.1
Mario Bonleon308.361540.0%2450.0%000.0%0.70.30.00.01.04.7
Joco Macasaet14312.2184242.9%000.0%101566.7%3.10.20.10.20.93.3
Zach Huang1479.9112839.3%010.0%152657.7%2.20.60.10.21.32.6
William Afoakwah141119.9124129.3%000.0%91752.9%8.80.30.30.91.82.4
Oli de Guzman1416.6103033.4%41330.8%5683.3%1.00.40.00.00.92.1
Justin Arana817.141330.8%000.0%4850.0%1.30.30.10.01.31.5
Enric Caunan816.441040.0%000.0%22100.0%1.50.10.00.10.61.3
Teshi Tateishi206.7010.0%000.0%000.0%0.00.50.01.00.50.0
Jason Strait000.0000.0%000.0%000.0%0.00.00.00.00.00.0
Total1440.033794035.9%4621621.3%20431864.2%45.211.64.62.623.366.1
Opponents1440.039599739.6%7930226.2%22332468.8%46.816.56.55.519.572.4


Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FGM  Field-goal made  FGA  Field-goal attempts  FG%  Field-goal percentage
 3PM  3-point field-goal made  3PA  3-point field-goal attempts  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage
 FTM  Free-throw made  FTA  Free-throw attempts  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  TOT  Turnovers per game  PPG  Points per game

Aftermath

  • The Future

Reeling from one of their worst finishes in the UAAP Men's basketball tournament, 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 post-game 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.[23]

  • The Past

Former head coach Pido Jarencio, who gave the Tigers the 2006 UAAP Championship title and a back-to-back finals appearances in 2012 and 2013, indirectly gave 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 the UST community wanted him back.[24]

Jarencio resigned as UST's head coach in January 2014 in exchange for a coaching job in the PBA.[25]

  • Departure of Key Players

On May 4, Renzo Subido announced his plan to skip the upcoming UAAP Season 80 basketball tournament. In a Twitter post, 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.[26]

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.[27]

  • Rumored Dissatisfaction With the Coach

The Growling Tigers joined the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup in the summer, but failed to make it past the elimination round, losing 7 games against only 1 win. This was highlighted by a 39-point loss to the LPU Pirates.

Because of the Tigers' poor showing in the tournament, various reports began to circulate about some players' growing dissatisfaction with their head coach,[28] which resulted to speculations that Coach Boy Sablan was on his way out as the team's chief tactician.[29]

Sablan, whose one-year contract expired on May 31, 2017, had undergone a surgical procedure on his gallbladder on May 15 was unable to coach the team during the tournament. Assistant coaches Tylon Dar Juan and Bam Ledesma took over practices and coaching duties.[30]

Sablan has belittled the 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.[31]

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

Awards

Player Award
Louie Vigil Kopiko 78's Recharged Player

Players drafted into the PBA

YearRoundPickOverallPlayerPBA team
20172517Louie VigilSan Miguel Beermen
20183830Kent LaoRain or Shine Elasto Painters
gollark: Really, stone tablets are the way to go for long-term storage.
gollark: That's probably longer than paper, but you need more technology to read them.
gollark: You can get these "M-disc" blu-rays which are claimed to be able to survive a thousand years, but this is kind of impossible to test.
gollark: 10000 or so.
gollark: It would be hard to kill *everyone*.

References

  1. Naredo, Camille B. "UAAP Season 79 set for 'simple' opening ceremony at UST". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  2. "Adamson finishes first round with blowout over UST". Sports Gateway PH. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  3. Bracher, Jane. "La Salle blasts UST for 11-0 record". Rappler. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  4. "Player of the Week Lee proving key to UST's playoff hopes". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  5. Ganglani, Naveen; Bracher, Jane. "Yay or nay? Predicting the UAAP Season 79 basketball tournament". Rappler. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  6. Terrado, Reuben. "UST source details maltreatment, violence allegedly committed by coach Bong Dela Cruz against players". SPIN.ph. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  7. "What we know about UST head coach Bong Dela Cruz". Rappler. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  8. Ganglani, Naveen. "UST coach Bong Dela Cruz under probe – report". Rappler. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  9. "No Bong dela Cruz in UST Growling Tigers practice". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  10. Terrado, Reuben. "Bong Dela Cruz on way out as UST coach, Bal David among top candidates, say sources". SPIN.ph. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  11. "UST names Sablan as new coach of Growling Tigers". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  12. Olivares, Rick. "Boy Sablan to be named new UST Growling Tigers head coach - source". Rappler. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  13. Bracher, Jane. "No stars; only role players, unselfish play for UST in UAAP 79". Rappler. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  14. Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin. "Coach Darjuan's PBA dream lives on through his Braves". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  15. Payo, Jasmine W. "UST's Francisco joins US program". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  16. Terrado, Reuben. "Former UST guard Patrick Fran embraces opportunity to give back to yellow and gold". SPIN.ph. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  17. Leongson, Randolph B. "New UST coach Sablan grapples with ineligibility of Vigil, Sheriff". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  18. "Age limit rules UST guard Sheriff ineligible for UAAP 79". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  19. Leongson, Randolph B. "Vigil frustrated over ineligibility as UST left without veteran leader". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  20. Lagunzad, Jerome. "Louie Vigil eyes PBA jump after UAAP lowers age limit". Fox Sports Asia. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  21. Terrado, Reuben. "UAAP backs out of plan to lower age limit, maintains scrapping of 'seven year window'". SPIN.ph. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  22. Ganglani, Naveen. "UST's Embons Bonleon to undergo surgery, out 6-8 months". Rappler. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  23. Naredo, Camille B. "Touted as 'the future,' Steve Akomo vows to do best for UST". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  24. Bracher, Jane. "Jarencio open to UST coaching return if called upon". Rappler. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  25. Bracher, Jane. "End of an era: Pido Jarencio leaves UST, moves to Globalport". Rappler. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  26. Suing, Ivan Ruiz L.; Anolin, Jan Carlo. "Subido to miss next UAAP". The Varsitarian. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  27. Suing, Ivan Ruiz L. "Bonleon to miss next UAAP, cites 'burnout'". The Varsitarian. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  28. Li, Matthew (2017-06-04). "Growling Tigers defend UST head coach from 'rumors'". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  29. Suing, Ivan Ruiz L. "Tigers coach on his way out?". The Varsitarian. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  30. "Crisis in Espana? More players mull leaving UST Tigers". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  31. Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin. "Team captain Lee says Tigers have no issues with coach Sablan". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
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