UST coach Pido Jarencio celebrates after Growling Tigers seal their return to the Final Four in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

With University of Santo Tomas copping a Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament after a five-year wait on Saturday night, the conversation quickly turned to how the Growling Tigers fared the last time they fared past the eliminations.

Under coach Aldin Ayo in Season 82, the Tigers were coming off two forgettable years before a bunch led by Mark Nonoy and CJ Cansino had Santo Tomas making the Finals via the back door.

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They would fall to mighty Ateneo in the title series before the program crumbled because of the controversial “Sorsogon bubble” where Ayo continued training his charges even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fast forward to the present day and the Tigers successfully returned to the semifinals under the mercurial Pido Jarencio, as Santo Tomas delivered in its biggest challenge of the season by downing Adamson, 75-49.

Securing No. 3 seed means that the Tigers forged a playdate with second-ranked University of the Philippines, a tough nut to crack to begin with as the Fighting Maroons have all the championship experience going for them—not to mention being protected by a twice-to-beat armor.

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But that also opened the possibility for Jarencio to repeat history like in 2019, when the Tigers somehow defeated the Maroons two consecutive times to get a shot at the crown.

Or maybe he has something better in mind.

“Let’s make a new story,” Jarencio said in Filipino after he also returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. “We are the ones now who will make a new story. Let’s see.

“Everyone has a different story,” he went on. “This is our time, this is the story, we’ll make our own.”

Compared to Santo Tomas, UP has veteran cogs such as Terrence Fortea, JD Cagulangan, Harold Alarcon and Gerry Abadiano among others who have been part of a historic championship in Season 84.

The Tigers have no one but playmaker Forthsky Padrigao with championship—and even Final Four—experience.

Experience of one

Padrigao won one with Ateneo two seasons ago before transferring. Longtime stalwarts such as Christian Manaytay, Nic Cabañero and Migs Pangilinan will see playoff action for the first time.

Jarencio has repeatedly acknowledged how big a role his floor general, Padrigao, plays. And the baby-faced guard is up to the task of playing even bigger.

“This is a familiar territory [for me] and I know that our games will only get harder from now on,” Padrigao said. “All of our remaining games will be a do-or-die. We are really happy, but after just a day or two of rest, we will be facing UP again.”

Though the Maroons swept their season matchups against Santo Tomas, one was very close with the other having the Tigers blow away control late.

“The players are different then and now. UP has tougher players [but] I am confident in my players,” Jarencio, who was the last mentor to give UST a championship in 2006, said.

“This is a good stepping stone. We will go to work and make a game plan on how to defeat UP—it’s like David and Goliath. This will be a good fight,” Jarencio said. INQ