With the UST Growling Tigers finally breaking their nine-year losing streak against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, let’s rewind and have a laugh about what was going down in the sports world (and beyond) back in 2015.
On September 26, 2015, the UST Growling Tigers achieved a historic 68-58 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 78, ending a harrowing 17-game losing streak that had included two crushing defeats in the Season 82 Finals.
At the time, the Blue Eagles were led by a rising star, Kiefer Ravena, who is now making waves in Japan’s B. League with the Yokohama B-Corsairs.
With a powerhouse roster featuring Kevin Ferrer, Ed Daquioag, and Karim Abdul, the Tigers had surged to a 2-0 start, igniting hopes for a championship run against the FEU Tamaraws.
But after that triumph, the Tigers faced a relentless nine-year drought, plagued by devastating losses to the Blue Eagles.
Until now.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Growling Tigers have finally shattered their long-standing curse, clinching a monumental victory over their Katipunan rivals for the first time since that historic UAAP Season 78 clash.
And for a bit of nostalgia, let’s throwback to the happenings in the sports world (or not) from 2015.
- Carlos Yulo was just 15 years old back then.
Fast forward to today; our now 24-year-old two-time Filipino Olympic gold medalist was just a budding gymnast when he snagged the bronze in the vault competition at the 2015 International Junior Gymnastics Championship in Yokohama, Japan. A young star in the making!
And maybe teenage Caloy—TikTok’s future favorite—was probably grooving to 2015’s viral hit “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).”
In 2015, the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) wasn’t PVL yet.
Originally called the Shakey’s V-League, it was launched in 2004 by the Sports Vision Management Group, Inc. to revive volleyball and offer Filipino fans a new sport to cheer for alongside basketball. Starting as an intercollegiate women’s league, it grew significantly thanks to dedicated fans and the hard work of its organizers.
By 2017, it rebranded as the PVL to include more teams beyond just colleges, though college squads still rock their own Collegiate Conference.
- June Mar Fajardo was just on his 2nd MVP.
June Mar Fajardo was still in his MVP rookie phase back then, snagging his 2nd MVP award like it was just another Tuesday. In 2015, the now eight-time MVP racked up his second consecutive MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, a Mythical First Team spot, an All-Defensive Team nod, and his first Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award.
The Golden State Warriors clinched their first NBA championship in four decades with a 105-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, sealing the deal in a thrilling six-game series. The Splash Brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, finally got their hands on the trophy after what felt like an eternity—proving that sometimes good things do come to those who wait.
While Klay has bid farewell to the Warriors after 13 memorable seasons, he’s left on great terms. The team is set to retire Thompson's No. 11 jersey at Chase Center, ensuring his legacy will shine bright even as he moves on. The splash continues, just in a different way.
- “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran: The Song That Never Takes a Break
You could bet your bottom dollar that "Darling, I" was on repeat every time you turned on the radio or popped in your wired earphones—because AirPods were still a sci-fi dream back then. And seriously, you couldn't help but wonder: Why does Ed Sheeran only promise love until age 70? What’s he planning to do when she hits 71—switch to “Thinking Out Loud... but less”?
It’s wild how quickly things change—Kevin Ferrer from UST is now a dad with a one-year-old, Caloy is all grown up, and the Golden State Warriors are busy reassembling their squad. Meanwhile, every time you hear “Thinking Out Loud,” you can't help but get a nostalgic chuckle. Despite all these changes, it's heartening to see how everything evolves for the better.
The UST Growling Tigers' epic win against the Ateneo Blue Eagles shows that with a bit of hard work, a splash of perseverance, and a hearty dose of self-belief, even the wildest dreams can come true. So keep believing—who knows what you'll achieve next?
ALSO READ: UST finally solves Ateneo puzzle as the Growling Tigers end 9-year UAAP drought vs. Blue Eagles