Final Four Cast: Beware of hungry, angry Tigers

University Of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers

Record: 8-6

Seeding: 4

Last UAAP title: 2006

MANILA, Philippines - Halfway through the second round, University of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio described his team as “a tiger climbing up a tree inch by inch.”

Although stated in jest, the Tigers mentor actually meant it. And the gang of Jeric Teng, Jeric Fortuna, Karim Adbul, Chris Camus and Kevin Ferrer made it a reality, winning all but two of their Round 2 assignments to finish with 8-6 and clinch the last berth in the Final Four.

“The team enjoys the momentum. Our game’s peaking and the confidence is high. We just have to be consistent as we work our way towards our destination,” said Jarencio.

A huge obstacle lies in wait for the Tigers: Top seed Ateneo, the champion team with no intention to relinquish its throne, a squad determined to bounce back from its lone loss this season (46-62 to Adamson).

“We’re the underdogs in this match-up but we’re ready, the team is focused. We’re already hungry for these kinds of situations,” he said.

The overachieving Tigers are considered the surprise package of the season, working their way up the ladder en route to a semis appearance after a forgettable 4-10 slate and seventh place finish in 2010.

“We’ve nothing to lose. I was the only one who believed this team can go this far. From the start they didn’t give us a chance because we’re only seventh last year. The players banded together, reached the Final Four through hard work. And we’ve defeated all the teams except one – Ateneo,” he said.

The Tigers yielded a pair of blowouts to Ateneo, 53-66 and 57-82 this year, extending their slump against the Eagles to 11 games since 2007.

“To stop Ateneo, we need to stop their transition offense because they’re the No. 1 team in fastbreak points. We also have to contain their perimeter shooting,” said Jarencio.

Jeric Teng

He issued a standing order to his players to try to put the cuffs on Ateneo’s top scorers Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena, Nico Salva and Kirk Long.

Jarencio will have no manpower shortage against the twice-to-beat Ateneo side as Cameroonian center Abdul is back after serving a one-game suspension in their 49-73 loss to National U in their last elims outing Sunday. Workhorse forward Carmelo Afuang also gets out of sick bay and reports to duty again, fully recovered from a recent gall-bladder operation.

“We need Karim and Afuang for this game. Karim in particular is doing well against Slaughter, limiting him in the two games we’ve played,” said Jarencio, keeping his fingers crossed that just like in 2006 when they climbed up the standings, the Tigers will go all the way to the top.