The UST Growling Tigresses keep focused on the game at hand, as their title defense get underway in UAAP Season 87.
The UST Growling Tigresses are the defending champions. But for head coach Haydee Ong, none of what happened last year--or even the last game--matters as they seek another UAAP title in Season 87.
After two convincing wins to start off the season for the Growling Tigresses this year, Ong said that they’re really taking it one game at a time. What happened in their previous game, or whatever their record is going into a new ball game, doesn’t matter.
“The tournament is very long; we treat it one game at a time. Masaya kami we won convincingly today again [against Ateneo], sa Sunday another game it’s Adamson so back to zero kami,” said Ong after their 77-54 victory over the Blue Eagles.
Facing UE in their opening game, that wasn’t too accurate of a barometer for the Growling Tigresses.
But as they ended up dominating anew against a Final Four team, it seemed like UST really is the team to beat this season. Still, Ong said that there won’t be any signs of letting up from her players until they get that championship.
“We will not be complacent, we will work harder pa rin para makuha 'yung one win every time maglalaro kami,” she said.
In their next game, the defending champions will face a fellow undefeated team in Adamson.
Though missing from the Final Four conversation in the last year, the Lady Falcons have pulled off surprises so far with their undefeated start.
As the Tigresses face their foes in their homecourt at Adamson University, Ong will be wary of any upset attempts.
“You cannot take any team for granted this season so we have to prepare hard for Adamson. They’re a fast team, ganon din they have loaded guards that are fast and ganon din yung sistema ni Coach Ryan [Monteclaro] so we have to work on Sunday to get the win again,” she said.
Now with the season in full swing, Ong expects to be able to rely on all her players--especially her seniors in Eka Soriano, Kent Pastrana, and Tacky Tacatac.
“'Yung mga veteran ko will always be there kapag kailangan mo sila. They will deliver and for this game talaga, 'yung mga veteran 'yung nag-deliver,” said Ong.
In their big win over Ateneo, the troika of Soriano, Pastrana, and Tacatac combined for 46 points.
UST and Adamson collide at the Adamson Gym on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
The game will air live on One Sports, the UAAP Varsity Channel, and the Pilipinas Live app.