A Tiger Season's End

A Tiger Season's End

by rick olivares

They lingered around the old hoop house; the old gymnasium beside the P. Naval entrance. Classes weren’t till the afternoon and they had a couple of hours off until they had to troop to class. Practice was over and so were the lunch festivities as it was their coach’s birthday.

In the open air court across the gym, the cheerleaders rehearsed for their swan song routine for the season.

Swan song.

Japs Cuan sat pensively as his minds raced to all his years in UST since he was in high school. Ever the team leader, he carried the weight of 40,000-stong (the entire population of the España school) on his shoulders. A team trainer ambled over and patted Cuan on his back, “Kung hindi ka lang na injure…”

For all the rookie errors, injuries, misplays and mistakes of the coaching staff, and bum calls, the graduating point guard of the 2006 UAAP champs laid the blame on himself. When Allan Evangelista struggled to find his game amidst bearing the mantle of captaincy, it was Cuan who took over as cheerleader and guiding force. This was never more evident when he went down with a knee injury in the first round. Despite another MVP-caliber showing by center Jervy Cruz, it was crystal – Cuan made this team go.

When he first came out playing for UST, whenever he was introduced, he was (older brother and former De La Salle star) Mac Cuan’s brother. There was pressure for sure, he admitted. But that’s how you win championships. You get tested. And the past season was well… testy.

What many people do not know is while he publicly said he was better, Japs knew in his heart he wasn’t. It was a risk playing because aggravating it could… well, he didn’t want to dwell on that. There was one last campaign to go out and give back something.

The skies were rapidly darkening with all the tell signs of rain but it was humid and forward Chester Taylor, towel in hand wiped off the sweat. “Mainit,” he smiled. “Pero okay lang.”

That sentence defines Taylor, the son of an Australian father and a Filipina mother. Playing for UST, he has been oft asked to guard the opposition’s big man and he does so without complaint. “Kung ano pagawa ni coach I’ll do it. We all have roles on this team. We can all score but we all have roles to fulfill if we want to win. Bali wala naman ang stats kung hindi ka naman panalo.“

At that point Jervy Cruz walked over and sat on the bench. He listened in as Cuan and Taylor talked about the season at length. They felt that their not playing in the summer leagues as a team (several of them with different PBL squads) eventually prevented from them gelling completely. They bemoaned the fact that they were not healthy all season long. Cruz had his much publicized foot problems while playing for Hapee Toothpaste. Ababou battled an assortment of injuries that affected his shooting form. Swingman Khasim Mirza was slowed down by a knee injury. And there was Cuan's momentum killer.

If he weren’t so tall, Cruz would disappear in a crowd. While makulit when with his teammates, he’s normally quiet and prefers the solace of losing himself into his ipod’s music. “Tapos na,” he said after his teammates bared their souls. “Pero nagpapasalamat ako kasi nangyari lahat ‘to.”

He toiled in obscurity in UST’s Team B for four years something that bothered him no end that he nearly transferred to Jose Rizal University. In fact, he tried out but didn’t even merit any notice from the Heavy Bombers' Coach Ariel Vanguardia. “Nag tryout ka ba,” asked a surprised Taylor who thought that Cruz only considered it. The center nodded. “Buti na lang,” followed up his teammate.

Yet for all of Cruz’ remarkable consistency, he had a hard time when Cuan was out. “Parang buong season hirap kami. Lagi kaming naghahabol. Kapag natatambakan kami tapos naka-rally kami, naiisip minsan namin na kayang-kaya. Pero kinapos na rin kami.”

Cruz like Taylor, Cuan, and Francis Allera, Mark Canlas, and Mel Gile are all graduating and will leave Ababou the sole remnant from the 2006 title squad. The high-leaping forward admitted to giving a brief thought of leading a raw team next year, but right now, he was still bothered about how the season went awry. Ababou, who missed practice as he was in class all morning, tried to remain upbeat as students said hi or posed for pictures. A teacher from his Art Appreciation class passed by and thanked him and his teammates for their efforts. In UST’s last outing against UE where their rally fell short, Dylan felt a bit happy because he played well after struggling in their past few games. But as the sobs permeated the UST locker room as the Tigers were booted from Final Four contention, Ababou, just as Taylor had said earlier, knew that individual stats were meaningless. The team fell short. He then let loose his tears.

Five years ago, as a senior at Siena College, Ababou hoped to go to La Salle but wasn’t recruited or even given a second look. A teammate of his was being recruited to play for UST and he tagged along. The recruiter liked Dylan’s size and he was eventually brought to España as well. “Best decision ko yun so far,” he said with distinct pride. "Happy ako nasa UST ako."

Japs Cuan was off to class. He pulled down his baseball cap to cover his eyes that were somewhat watery. It wasn’t obvious anyway because of the downpour that sent everyone scampering for cover. Putting things in perspective, he won a championship in high school and in college. That two that many never even get to experience. So he was thankful in some way. Along with Cruz, their coach’s never-say-die attitude has rubbed off on them. They’d dearly love to play for Coach Pido Jarencio’s old team, Ginebra San Miguel (for Taylor, he doesn’t care what team he goes to as long as he can make it to the pros if given the chance). “It’s also a dream,” said Cuan. “My old one – playing for UST – is almost over.”

While some people expected Cuan to go to La Salle to follow the path of his older brother, he stayed put in España with Mac being very supportive of his sibling’s decision. Even during games between the Green Archers and UST, Mac wore the gold of the Tigers in a powerful show of support. And in an ironic twist since the boon of 2006, Mac is now introduced as, “Japs Cuan’s brother.”

“But it’s all in good fun as we support each other,” laughed the graduating Tiger. All thoughts then turn to tomorrow (Saturday September 6). “Syempre, we want to win the game against UP so at least we win in our final game as Tigers. After that it’s time to live a new one.”

The Tigers milled around the old gym beside the P. Naval entrance. They can’t believe it’s almost over.

Post script:
In their final game of Season 71, the UST Growling Tigers beat the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons 71-63. Jervy Cruz scored 21 points, Dylan Ababou 19, Japs Cuan 3, and Chester Taylor 2. As the Tigers made their way off the Araneta floor for the last time, Cuan removed a necklace, made the sign of the cross, and pointed up high to the Man upstairs.

Author's Note:
Thanks, guys! Wish I had more time to write about the Tigers and their amazing coach.

The guys were very accommodating and I was surprised that they opened up to a lot of things about the season that passed. Believe me, they told me a lot some of which are insider's stories. What also impressed me was their honesty and sincerity. And Cuan... dude, galing mo! Best of luck to your stint in the PBL.

Thanks to my kids -- my Event Secretariat at the UST College of Commerce -- for facilitating this. See ya round, team! Sa uulitin.