5 good reasons why UST should win the UAAP Season 76 Men's Basketball

Mark your calendars, October 5, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. as the Tomato Girl makes her prediction that UST will take home the UAAP Season 76 Men's Basketball Trophy. Here are reasons why UST should and will win:

1. because UST has the heart for it. Can you hear the crowd going wild? People chanting the ever immortal cheer, "Go USTE! Go USTE!" Some sports writers say that the UAAP finals game has one theme: heart versus height. La Salle's boys may be taller, but UST's ballers has a rare never say die attitude. UST showed well enough aggressiveness and determination when they rewrote UAAP history and defeated the top seeded NU in the semifinals in a twice to beat battle.

Definitely, the cries are deafening, and that is what drives these Thomasian players to their core.

2. because Coach Pido cried for this. When Pido Jarencio says in between sobs, "Di ko talaga akalain na aabot pa kami [I really didn’t think that we would get this far]. Maraming taong nagdududa sa kakayanan ko [A lot of people doubted my ability].” Then, there must be something wrong, and that is why he needs to prove his detractors (am not one of them, thank you) wrong with this coveted trophy.

3. because UST earned it.Some say, like UP coach Rey Madrid that UST has the experience, giving them a clear shot for the title cup. With a disappointing runner up finish last year's run against Ateneo, UST proved that it has earned where it is today, and does not need to be a runner up. Kevin Ferrer worked out those three pointers, Abdul finally making those penalty shots, and the rest of the team just playing that darn hard.



4. because it's Jeric's Teng final year. Adding more oomph and inspiration to the never say die attitude is team captain is that this is team captain, Jeric Teng's final year. He made it clear that he wanted to go to the championship when he faced Bobby Ray Parks and the NU Bulldogs with the shirt that said, nope not today.

Of course, everybody wants a memorable exit. a championship finish, and not a runner-up (or as some say first loser). “We’re so close to the championship; we’re really going to fight for it,” the older Teng told Inquirer after winning against NU.

5. finally because God is a Thomasian. He made UST win against Ateneo, He can do it again, this time with the Espanya boys beating La Salle.