Let the "grades blitz" begin.

In a couple of hours from the time I'm writing this blog entry, thousands of Thomasians will take to their computer sets, open their internet browsers and once again browse through the myUSTe Student Portal Website.

myUSTe Student Portal

As you may know already, the myUSTe Student Portal is where thousands of Thomasian students check their status in the university which includes their grades from every semester they took up, Wi-Fi account status, class schedules, course offerings, online evaluations as well as online enrollment.

Last semester, browsing through the website when the grades came out was relatively easy as students were able to see their grades much faster. I got to see my grades in less than a minute after I logged in to check out my grades.

Unlike in previous years, where the site always crash and students would have to wait from minutes to hours before they can pull through the heavy site traffic which the site can not handle back in those times to log in and see their grades.

A new feature that can be seen in the website is called Student Deficiencies. It shows the subjects a student has yet to take in order to graduate at the university. If a current subject you are taking shows up on the list. It could mean a couple of things, it's either you fail, you're incomplete, or the professor has yet to encode your grades.

As of this moment I write this blog entry, the GWA (General Weighted Average) of some of my Thomasian PEEPS had already changed, most notable would be from Pharmacy. So the grades are starting to be placed into the website.

So here we are once again. The long wait is over, our España journeys are on the line. Right now, all I can hope for is to PASS all subjects and still be a regular student. Being back in the Dean's List (which I was a part for the first 3 semesters of my Thomasian student life) will be a bonus for me if I'll ever be back. But still I'm pursuing to finish with Latin Honors. A Cum Laude will be good enough for me. But as I say this, I believe that grades do not measure how good a person can be in life.

As I end this blog entry, I want to say to all the Thomasians out there, Good luck! and I hope we get through with flying colors.

KEEP CALM AND WE WILL PASS!
K-Smoove 

We are well under way. Take out the boredom.

We are well within the semestral break which will last for the next 3 weeks. It's an opportunity for the students to take their well-deserved rest after a grueling yet fun first semester of classes. It's also gives students who live in the provinces to come home to their respective hometowns after living in dormitories or condominiums all-semester long.


For me, my semestral break did not start early. As I had to finish some schoolwork that has been left behind after the final examinations. Due to this, I was unable to go back to our province of Batangas to visit my relatives, celebrate the debut of my cousin and spend time in a resort by the Taal Lake and has a great view of Taal Volcano. After that, once I passed everything. My semestral break is now well under way.

Of course, the semestral break gave me an opportunity to do things that I was unable to do during the whole semester due to the busy schedule I have all semester long, and that was to play basketball early in the morning or take a jog if other people are playing at the basketball court. It gave me an opportunity to practice my shooting from inside and outside, at the same time it keeps my body active and in good shape. I really hope I can play basketball with my high school friends. It has been a very long time since I stepped on the court with my friends from high school.

Aside from that, I really hope in this semestral break, I can secure an original copy the PC version of NBA 2K13.

 ©2K Sports

I'm pursuing an original copy, because the last time I purchased which was NBA 2K12. There were a lot of glitches which stalled my progress as I played the game. Though it will be a pain on the pocket if I purchase an original copy. At least, it would be all worth the price. I cannot wait to try out Linsanity playing Rockets uniform. The many roster changes like Dwight Howard and Steve Nash going to the Lakers. Ray Allen in a Heat uniform. Brandon Roy's return to the NBA and many more. Other things I want to try are the NBA All-Star Game which will be played in Houston. "The Dream Team" and the 2012 USA Olympic Team. The new myTeam mode as well as a reloaded myPlayer mode. NBA 2K has already made a lot of huge steps, from the time they were behind EA's NBA Live series to being the best basketball game on the planet. I can't wait to try it out for myself.

In the meantime, I will go back to being a child again, because of the Lego Digital Designer we just downloaded to build virtual Lego designs. However, nothing beats building a Lego in real life with the bricks and pieces. Well, The Lego Story on YouTube, shows the history behind a classic.

Aside from these, I cannot wait for the the upcoming 2012-13 NBA season, which will begin on October 31. This season will be very interesting from the many roster changes that had changed the landscape of the NBA to the new rookies coming into the league. It will also be the debut season of the Brooklyn Nets who moved from New Jersey and are donning new uniforms and a new stadium for the season. Games to watch out are the returns of players to the homecourts of their old teams like Dwight Howard in Orlando. Steve Nash in Phoenix. Ray Allen in Boston. Joe Johnson in Atlanta. Jeremy Lin in New York. Andre Iguodala in Philadelphia. Andrew Bynum in Los Angeles. Brandon Roy in Portland and a host of other players who changed teams this season. Also to watch out are the many rivalry games that will happen all-season long. As well as the returns of injured players in the middle of the season like Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and Ricky Rubio. As well as the upcoming 2013 NBA All-Star Game to be held in Houston. This upcoming season will be a sure hit.

It's been a couple of days since the semestral break began. I really hope I can make the best out of these days before we head back to school this November.

Let's make the best out of this.

K-Smoove

Another chapter comes to a close.

The first semester of A.Y. 2012-13 at the University of Santo Tomas, has come to an end. This has been a semester full of stories. Stories that I will share with you in this blog entry.

First up I would like to call: "Winning for Santo Tomas."

I competed in two quiz bees this semester representing the university at this year's PHILTOA Quiz Bee and the International Tourism and Trade Expo Quiz Bee. As one of the three representatives of the university, it was a great privilege for me to compete for the university in competitions. 

At the PHILTOA Quiz Bee that was held on July 11 at the Department of Tourism building in Manila, in which we competed individually. All of us made it to the semi-final round. Unfortunately, none of us made it into the Top 10 of the competition who would have competed in the Finals that was held in August. It was a very good learning experience for me, shaking off the jitters I had before the competition, knowing it's been a long time

A few days after, we competed at the International Tourism and Trade Expo Quiz Bee at the SM City North EDSA Skydome in Quezon City. This time, we competed as one team. It was a tightly-contested competition. All of our fellow competitors put up a great show. In the end, Team UST came out on top. It was my first quiz bee victory as a college student.

Photo ©ITTE

It was a great victory for all of us, and made me proud to win a competition for the name of the university and our own college, the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Once again I will thank my senior teammates Kriskyn Cabrera and Marian Buenaventura for being supportive and helping me shake off the jitters I have before these competitions. As well as to my ever-supportive coaches Ma'am Amy, Ma'am Jane, Ma'am Joreen and Ma'am Connie as well as to the admin, our Dean Ma'am Tioc, Sir Win and Sir G (the latter two were my class advisers and know a lot about me well). I cannot wait for the competitions that we will join come next semester. This is just the start of something BIG!

The next thing I would like to talk about,  I would call: "Shining in the Dark."

The first semester was also marked with our Meetings and Events Management class. Where as one section, one 3T5. We came up with the event entitled "Silhouette: A Glint in the Dark, The Search for the Next Miss Tourism Ambassadress 2012". As one section, we had to go through at the most, 3 months of conceptualizing, preparation and the final execution of the event itself. From practices, photo shoots, prep work, setting, promotions and marketing, pre-pageant, the event proper, and a lot of things in between, there were a lot of work put on by each and every one in the class. There were a lot of challenges along the way that tested the camaraderie of the entire section to pull off an event that will be remembered by many. Even I had to "play with fire" during the whole process, sharing my own suggestions, even to points where I get into disputes and play the role of a "Devil's Advocate".  

Photo ©Riana Frazil de Guzman

But in the end, all the hard work was all worth it as on one Sunday afternoon on the 23rd of September. It all came down to this event and fortunately, the event was generally a resounding success! Even though the event is finished, my work is not done. As a member of the Documentation committee, my work still continues today until all the documentation work is done and well on their way to the record books. It was also a great learning experience not only for me, but I think of all of us in the class, despite some setbacks and times when it was bad, this experience is considered as one of the best memories of my college life. 3T5 indeed, WE SHINED IN THE DARK.

Next on the list I would like to call: "One For UST!"

As a huge basketball fan, this UAAP basketball season will be one in the record books, especially if you are coming from UST. The 75th season of the UAAP is in my opinion, one of the best years to be a fan of UST Growling Tigers basketball. Where the Tigers finished 2nd in the elimination round with 10 wins and 4 losses, marking their first 10 win season since 1999. They were also call the "Comeback Cats" of the UAAP as most of their victories came off from coming back from huge deficits. The Tigers punched their ticket to the Finals by defeating the NU Bulldogs in the Final Four where they faced the four-time defending champions, the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Unfortunately, despite a valiant effort by the team and a tightly contested Finals series, the Growling Tigers were unable to repeat their feat in 2006 where they defeated the Blue Eagles coming back from a 0-1 deficit to take the championship. The Blue Eagles would sweep the series 2-0 on their way to a 5th consecutive UAAP men's basketball title. 

 Photos ©Karl Carandang

This season for me, I was able to watch 3 games. The first one was the 1st round battle between the Growling Tigers and the De La Salle Green Archers in the very first meeting between the Teng brothers in the UAAP as UST's Jeric faced off against his younger brother DLSU's Jeron. It was also my first game watching from the Patron side of the court, and I watched it together with one of my previous professors in UST who had his education in La Salle and we share Claretian roots. The game was tightly contested and went into two overtimes, before the Tigers would pull away for an 84-82 victory. I was able to watch both games of the UAAP Finals between UST and Ateneo, both on the nosebleed sections of the arena (Game 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Game 2.at the Smart Araneta Coliseum). In both games, I was able to watch them with my fellow blockmates. Two years ago and last year, I would not expect them to watch a basketball game, but now it has happened and I thank them for it. Aside from them, I also saw my other friends around the arena and outside before and after the games. Whether the game ends in victory or defeat. Nothing beats the Thomasian crowd during the game. From the thousands of Thomasian students, faculty and alumni who come to watch the games to the trademark "Go USTe!" cheer accompanied by yellow ballons as well as the loud roars and cheers  from the crowd. Even a flashback from the 1990s with the Thomasian wave inside the arena during timeouts. Watching UST games this season has been a rewarding one for me, it's a great feeling every time you watch a game live together with your friends and the entire Thomasian community in attendance at the games. I hope next season, we can do this again and the crown will go back to España!

Up next I would like to call: "Happenings in España."

In times where there are no games at MOA Arena or at the Big Dome, and times when I'm not competing in a contest. A lot of other things has happened both inside the classroom and around campus. Inside the classroom, every subject this year has been a challenge. With most of the free time being used for the preparation of the event we organized this semester. It has been a tough challenge to take time and focus on other subjects. From the continuation of learning the French language to the calculations made in Accounting class. From the life lessons of PDSR class to the responsible acts for the environment in Ecotourism class. Even a visit on a passenger vessel for one of our school projects. Every subject this semester, has tested each and every one of us to the limit. I had to endure times of brilliance as well as times of misery, all semester long. I'm hoping I can make it back alive and well, and be back better than ever once the next semester comes.

Around campus a lot of things has also happened as well. There were plenty of suspension of classes due to bad weather and flooding not only inside and around the campus, but also in other places across the metropolis. It caused our semestral break to start a full week late than expected and also caused the postponement of the.annual Thomasian Welcome Walk for our freshies, not once, not twice, but three times when the freshies finally. get to pass the arch on September 24. 

Another defining moment around campus this semester was when Queen Sofia of Spain made her visit to the UST campus. I was one of the thousands of Thomasians who were there to see her during her visit. But before the convoy arrived, a crew from Solar News arrived and asked UST students about the queen's visit and I was one of those who were interviewed. Unfortunately, when I checked their news program later that day. They did not show it on television. Fortunately, a friend of mine took this photo when I was interviewed by the news crew.

Photo ©Kaiz del Mundo

Also, it was a great honor to meet the players of UST around campus. Finally, after almost 2 years and a semester in campus. I got myself pictures with two members of the Growling Tigers. First, with the graduating court general, "The Captain" Jeric Fortuna. Second with dead-eye shooter Clark "Tata" Bautista.

Photos ©Fats Infante

Just like previous years, I also see other UST players around campus like Aljon Mariano, Karim Abdul, Kevin Ferrer, Kim Lo and the rest of the team. Two moments I won't forget this semester was when I saw Jeric Teng the day before Game 1 of the UAAP Finals. I said to him "Good luck bukas!" "Good luck tomorrow!" He replied by saying "Thank You!" and seeing UST coach Pido Jarencio inside the UST Chapel as I was saying my prayers.

I also got to meet a lot of friends this semester, not only inside of our own college CTHM. But also, in other colleges of the university. It's always a great feeling to get out of your normal comfort zone and step out to meet a lot of people along the way.

To cap this blog entry, I will call this: "What's Next?"

Yes, my 5th semester as a Thomasian Travel Management student has come to an eventful end. Now begins, the semestral break which will last for three weeks. However, one week from now, the grades will be out, and the following week, it's time to enroll for the next semester. I really hope for the best as this chapter of "My España journey" closes and a new chapter begins very soon. Right now, I can finally take that long and deserving rest from all the fun and challenges brought by this semester. To cap off everything, I take one final salute by the Manila Bay.

 Photo ©Riana Frazil de Guzman

HELLO SEMBREAK! 

k-smoove is all in.

K-Smoove

In VICTORY or DEFEAT, WE are PROUD of OUR HEROES.

After 5 days of all the verbal battles off the court, even controversies shaking the relationship of both schools (even La Salle was involved in the mix). The action resumed at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for Game 2 of the UAAP Finals between the UST Growling Tigers and the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

But before the action, there was an awarding ceremony for all the individual award winners of the UAAP season. Where the Rookie of the Year award was given to Jeron Teng of the DLSU Green Archers. The Mythical Five included FEU's Terrence Romeo, DLSU's Jeron Teng, NU's Ray Ray Parks, ADMU's Greg Slaughter and UST's own Karim Abdul, and the season's Most Valuable Player Award once again went to NU's Ray Ray Parks for the second straight season. One cool thing about was when Jeron Teng was awarded with the Rookie of the Year, the UST Yellow Jackets played the "Animo La Salle" cheer. Showing the respect and camaraderie between UST and La Salle.

After the awarding ceremony, it's GAME TIME! It was a tightly-contested game as both teams battled out of the gates trading baskets and leads. At halftime, the game was tied at 29. Both teams also kept in step in the 2nd half taking leads and making comebacks for control of the game. However, all the breaks in the end game went to the Eagles as 4th year guard Juami Tiongson delivered heroics both on offense and defense where he made a big shot with under 2 minutes left in the game, and with the game at 62-65 with 7 seconds left in the 4th. the Tigers having a chance to tie the game with a three pointer he intercepted Clark Bautista's pass intended for Jeric Fortuna as the Blue Eagles melt the clock to secure a five-peat winning over the Tigers 62-65, and also redeeming their loss to the Tigers in 2006.

Box score:

UST (62) -  Fortuna 20, Teng 9, Lo 8, Abdul 8, Ferrer 7, Bautista 6, Mariano 4, Vigil 0, Pe 0, Afuang 0
ADMU (65) - Ravena 25, Slaughter 15, Tiongson 10, Salva 8, Chua 6, Gonzaga 3, Sumalinog 1, Golla 0, Elorde 0, Buenafe 0

The 5th championship trophy for the Blue Eagles also marks the end of an era in Ateneo basketball. As head coach Norman Black, after spending 8 seasons with the Blue Eagles bids farewell with a resounding "BANG!" as he secures his 5th UAAP title and leaves the team to come back to the PBA to coach for the Talk 'n Text Tropang Texters. He also surpassed the feats of legendary UST coach Aric Del Rosario who led the Growling Tigers to four titles from 1993 to 1996 and also the legendary DLSU coach Franz Pumaren who led the Archers to it's version of a four-peat from 1998 to 2001. However, he will not be able to surpass the feat of the legendary UE coach Baby Dalupan who led the Red Warriors to seven straight UAAP titles from 1965 to 1971(including the 1967 season where they were named co-champions with UST). It is also a sweet farewell for Nico Salva who wins his second straight Finals MVP trophy in his final season with the team, Salva alongside Justin Chua, Tonino Gonzaga and Oping Sumalinog as they are the four players who were there from the beginning of their five-peat in 2008 until this season. Also bidding their farewell for the Blue Eagles are Greg Slaughter and Ryan Buenafe as both men will not be back next season due to eligibility. However, Buenafe leaves the UAAP with four UAAP titles including a Finals MVP award which he won in 2010, and Slaughter will leave the Eagles with two UAAP titles, and yes, there will be another Bonfire for the 5th straight season in Katipunan.

Next season, a lot of questions are in the air for the Blue Eagles, with MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan), Ateneo's then-devoted sports patron cutting his ties with the university and coach Norman Black's exit from the UAAP. Who will call the shots for the Blue Eagles? and how will Kiefer Ravena fare next season without Salva and Slaughter? Ateneo, would still have players from this championship season. Yet they will be coming in next season very young as 6 of their veterans will leave the team at the end of the season.

As for our heroes the UST Growling Tigers, despite falling short this season. They overachieved and exceeded expectations, as most critics thought the Tigers would just be in the mix for the Final Four. Nobody outside the players, the coaching staff and the Thomasian community thought the Tigers will make it to the Finals. This is a very huge learning experience for our heroes, and I'm sure they will be better next season. 

However, this is the last game for two of our heroes in the UAAP, "The Captain" Jeric Fortuna, who was the steady court general who orchestrated UST's offense and the one delivered some of the biggest baskets this season for the team. Another player who played his final game was Melo Afuang who was a steady rebounder despite his lack of height at the power forward position. Both Fortuna and Afuang went through the ups and downs of the Tigers for the last five years. They were there when times were rough when the Tigers failed to make the Final Four in 2008 and 2010 (in which they ended the season at 4-10). They were also there when the Tigers made their resurgence last year and this season. I wish them the best of luck on their future endeavors. The chants of "Fortuna!" rained down the coliseum as the Thomasian crowd on hand at the Big Dome showed their love for the court general who led his team through every challenge that stood in their way and considered as one of the best players to ever wear a UST uniform.

THANK YOU JERIC! THANK YOU MELO!

As for the other players who will be back in the fold next year, players like Jeric Teng, Aljon Mariano, Clark Bautista, Karim Abdul, Kevin Ferrer, Kim Lo, Louie Vigil, Paulo Pe and the rest of the team. We're sure that they will gain from this experience of being in the Finals of the UAAP, and doing it against no less than the reigning champions is something in itself an achievement. They will be back stronger and more inspired next season, as their quest to bring the glory back to España will have to wait for at least the next season. Finally to Coach Pido Jarencio, who has been marred in controversy for the past few days. He did a great job this season, because he led UST to it's first 10+ win season since 1999 where they also finished in 2nd place in the standings before falling short in the Finals against the De La Salle Green Archers in three games. He also kept his players in check and has served as an inspiration, not only to the players, but also to the entire Thomasian community for his humbleness and humility which has won the hearts and support of the whole Thomasian community over the years. I hope he stays for next season to lead the Tigers back to the promised land. At the end of the day, In victory or defeat, we are still proud of our heroes.

Photo ©Karl Carandang

Watching the UAAP Finals this season, has been a rewarding one for me personally. Even though, the story-book ending I wished for did not happen this year. It was a great feeling to be in one with the Thomasian community inside the arena, showing their support for our heroes. From the yellow ballons on the cheer of "Go USTe!" to the fansigns and bobbleheads, to the loud cheers, and to the crowd wave which was a flashback moment from the 1990's during UST's legendary run of four championships. Either we celebrate in VICTORY or suffer in DEFEAT. Nothing beats the UST crowd showing their full support for the team. Even Ateneo coach Norman Black quotes:

"I coach for Ateneo but I'm in love with the "Go USTe" cheer! I hear it in my sleep."

Also, I got to watch these games with my blockmates and friends which is a great thing for me. Knowing the fact, two years ago and last year, I never expected to watch a basketball game with them, because back then, they do not share the same love of basketball as I do. Thank God, it happened this year, and I hope by next season, we'll be there to watch the games again this time with more friends coming along with us.

So that concludes another season of UAAP Basketball.
Once again, congratulations to the Ateneo Blue Eagles for winning their 5th straight title.
Congratulations as well to our heroes, the UST Growling Tigers for a great season nonetheless.
See you next season!

Go USTe! One for UST! Viva Santo Tomas!
Go Ateneo! One Big Fight!
K-Smoove

A good game that could have been great.

A dream was realized by the thousands of Thomasian students and alumni, as for the first time in six years. The UST Growling Tigers are back in the UAAP Finals for Men's Basketball, and they faced off against no less than the team they defeated the last time they were in this scenario, the current four-time reigning champions, the Ateneo Blue Eagles. The players may have been different from the time these two teams last faced off in the Finals, but the feeling is still there. It was a dream for me to see the Tigers on the hunt for the UAAP title in my Thomasian student life. I'm happy it has finally happened on my third year at the university.

I was one of the lucky 20,686 in attendance at the Mall of Asia Arena who got to witness the very first game of this great series. Even though I was seated in the General Admission section of the arena, I still had a good view of the game and it was all worth the three hour wait that me and my friends had to go through to get tickets for the game. Notable people were there as former UST and Ateneo players from their battle in 2006 were featured. People like UST's Dylan Ababou, Jervy Cruz, Japs Cuan, Jojo Duncil as well as Ateneo's JC Intal, Doug Kramer, Macky Escalona, Chris Tiu to name a few. Even La Salle's Jeron Teng came out to support his older brother Jeric.

The game was a treat, a beautiful game from the start as in the 1st half, the Tigers were bringing their A-game on the Eagles and at halftime, UST was leading 38-31. However, in the second half the Eagles went on a 17-0 blitz to take the lead heading in to the 4th quarter. In the 4th, the Tigers living up to their moniker as the "Comeback Cats" of the UAAP made another comeback from a 10 point deficit at the end of the 3rd, Taking a 64-63 lead on a Karim Abdul dunk. However, the Eagles would not be denied from that point despite a furious run by the Tigers, as the Eagles escape with a Game 1 victory 83-78 taking them to a 1-0 lead in the series and a victory away from their 5th straight UAAP title in men's basketball.

Nico Salva had a career night for the Blue Eagles scoring 30 points on an excellent shooting night for the graduating forward and last year's Finals MVP. Kiefer Ravena only scored 13 points, however he sank the dagger shot which sealed the victory for the Eagles. Guard Juami Tiongson added 12 points and Ryan Buenafe scored 10 points.

Jeric Teng led the Tigers with 25 points, while Aljon Mariano added 22 points and 11 rebounds. Kevin Ferrer scored 13 points. While Karim Abdul was only limited to 9 points before fouling out in the final seconds of the game. On a side note, forward Melo Afuang was sidelined at the hospital and missed the game.

Box Scores:

UST (78) - Teng 25, Mariano 22, Ferrer 13, Abdul 9, Fortuna 4, Lo 3, Pe 2, Bautista 0.

ADMU (83) - Salva 30, Ravena 13, Tiongson 12, Buenafe 10, Chua 9, Slaughter 5, Gonzaga 2, Elorde 2, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0.

Quarter-by-quarter scores: 24-18, 38-31, 51-61, 78-83

With these great statlines and moments, the game's finish was marred with controversy. The last two calls of the game, one was about Karim Abdul's fifth and final foul which was shown on the replay drew flak among the UST gallery on had at the venue as Abdul had a clean swipe of the ball on Kiefer Ravena who selled the call well, and the second call in which Jeric Teng shot a three pointer over Ryan Buenafe in which the referee signaled for a foul, yet no free throws were given. As the final buzzer sounded off, UST coach Pido Jarencio showed his disappointment with the calls of the referees and the whole UST gallery inside the arena were jeering the referees. Let's make that clear, the UST gallery were not jeering the Blue Eagles and the Ateneo gallery inside the arena.

At the post-game interview, coach Pido Jarencio showed his disappointment over the bad calls. Here are some quotes from his interview.

“I’m not against Ateneo. Pero bakit ganun? Unfair naman sa min, dahil UST lang kami ganun ang tawagan? Sana ayusin nila. Kundi baka magkaroon ng people power dito."

“Sa akin, basta kami nag-e-enjoy lang kami. We enjoy the game. Ako positive ako sa team namin. Binigyan namin ng magandang laban ang Ateneo. Pero wag naman ganun. Sa atin lang, parehas naman tayo lumaban. Sana kung tinuturuan ko yung mga player na saktan mo ito. Saktan mo iyan, duraan mo ito, duraan mo iyan. Tayo fair and square ang laban natin. Yung mga players, kaya mahal ako niyan at kaya mahal ko rin sila, kung ano yung tinuro ko, yun ang nilalabas nila. Walang kalokohan. Walang bahid na pagdududa sa mga tinuturo ko. Kaya yung mga players ang puso buong buo."

“Second coming. Tapos na nung elimination, may pangalawa na naman. Ganito na naman. Nakakasawa rin"

“No, walang complaint. Basta ako umakyat ako, bumunot ako ng referee as sinabi ko sa kanila. Physical game ito Let the players decide the game not the referees."

“Ang ninipis ng tawag, ang kakapal ng mukha. Sana marinig lang din nila ako. Eh kasi naaawa ako sa mga estudyante babayad 250, pipila madaling araw. Ala una ng madaling araw nandyan na para mapanood lang kami. Mapanood Ateneo-UST game tapos gaganunin lang. De-deprive kami ng fair officiating. Bahala na sila. Ma-ko-konsensya din yang lintik na yun.”

People had mixed reactions with Coach Jarencio's statement, some showed sympathy with him. While others called him a "sore loser" for the statement he made with the media. But as we know, coach Jarencio did not have complaints on officiating until this game which has higher stakes than a elimination round game.

Coming off from a perspective of a Thomasian student who watch the games for the love of basketball. Even though the game did not end in UST's favor, It was still a "good" game. Both the Tigers and the Eagles gave their hearts out all game long and the fact I still have a lot of respect for the Ateneo community knowing I have friends having their education with the university. However, the game could have been "great" if not for all the bad calls whether the game ended with an Ateneo victory or a UST victory. What all Thomasians want is "One Clean Fight!" and we hope that in Game 2 when Ateneo is just a victory away from a five-peat and UST hoping to force a winner-take-all Game 3, we get a clean and great game. I'm sure if Ateneo ended up in the same situation, they'll also show their disappointment with the outcome.

Game 2 of the UAAP Finals will be played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 11, Thursday. TV coverage begins at 3pm on Studio 23. If the Blue Eagles win, they will clinch their 5th consecutive UAAP title. However, if the Growling Tigers win, they will force a winner-take-all Game 3 on October 13, Saturday back at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Remember, the Tigers this season had not lost at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. They are at 7-0 which included their 71-70 first round victory against the Blue Eagles, and in the 2006 UAAP Finals. Ateneo took Game 1, but UST came back to win the next two games on their way to their first UAAP basketball title since 1996 when they capped of their version of a four-peat with legendary coach Aric del Rosario who is now calling the shots for the Perpetual Altas of the NCAA.

Ironically, I was in 1st year high school when UST and Ateneo squared off in the UAAP Finals in 2006 and I chose the Blue Eagles to win the title. But as we know, fate had other things in mind. Now, six years later, I'm a Thomasian student rooting for the Tigers to win this season. We know that these guys have what it takes to bounce back from adversity.

BELIEVE! KEEP THE FAITH! NEVER SAY DIE!
Go USTe! One for UST! Viva Santo Tomas!
We are Fueled for UST!
K-Smoove