Coach Pido Jarencio commended the UST Growling Tigers as they survived a feisty late-game surge from the UE Red Warriors to keep their Final Four hopes alive, 76-67, in the UAAP Men's basketball tournament, on Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Red Warriors were able to trim down the Growling Tigers’ lead from 20 at halftime to within five with 2:48 remaining, 69-64.

UST veterans Nic Cabañero and Christian Manaytay delivered the late-game heroics to put the stamp into their sixth win of the season.

“Makikita mo 'yong aggressiveness and desire ng players at nagkaroon ng pride sa game. Hindi sila bumigay until the end,” the seasoned UST coach Jarencio said.

“They [UE] took three or four 3-point shots para dumikit pero kami naman we are focused especially ‘yong two games namin ang makakapag-dictate sa amin kung makakapasok kami sa Final Four,” he added.

Prior to the game, the UST players and coaches conducted an open forum to voice out their needs and goals coming into the must-win matches, which turned out to be a positive response.

“For me, this is still a total team effort. ‘Yong mga coaches I commend them kasi talagang nagtratrabaho. Ako hindi lang naman ako ang head coach dito. Lahat kami coach dito,” Jarencio further added.

The team also adjusted with composure as key players like Mo Tounkara, Angelo Crisostomo, and Cabañero all suffered minor injury scares throughout the game.

“Kung nawala ‘yong isa dapat ikaw do your share, do your responsibility. Kaya ready ‘tong mga ito, at ‘yong mga players na pumapalit sa kanila,” coach Jarencio said.

“Ang masasabi ko lamang sa kanila tumanggap lang kami nang tumanggap kasi importante we play, wala tayong masasaktan. Basta tayo we are going to play physical but not rough, nakahanda naman itong mga bata,” he added.

CABAÑERO'S CAVALRY

Captain Cabañero thanked his coaching staff and his teammates for the job well done as his dreams in the Final Four are finally coming into picture after four years.

Cabañero and the squad will be buckling up for their final game of the elimination round against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Cabañero vows to risk everything in probably his most crucial game for UST.

“Stay ready lang kami. Alam naman ng coaches ginagawa nila. Gawin lang namin best namin iisipin namin na every game counts,” Cabañero further added.

Cabañero led the UST Growling Tigers with a season-high of 27 points and eight rebounds versus UE.

The last time UST punched a ticket to the Final Four was in Season 82 stepladder series five years ago, where they finished second with an 8-6 win-loss record after the elimination round.