Tiger fever grips the land

COMMUNICATION Arts junior Jose Salvadorre Camins rushed toward Araneta Coliseum’s red gate with his yellow flags, posters, and two-meter banner. Inside the dome, he slowly unravel the banner that read “Thomasian and Proud.”

“I didn’t mind getting sandwiched by a huge crowd,” Camins said. “I would exert all my efforts for my banner to be seen.”
And Camins’ efforts did not go to waste.
Tiger forward Dylan Ababou said the banners had a huge impact on their games.
“Whenever we see lots of banners, we tend to play with a lot of confidence,” he said.

A crowd that cheers
To unite Thomasians in one cheer was the aspiration of students and professors who made the banners. The improvised “Tiger Fight!” streamers, yellow and Tiger balloons were statements of their rally for support.
“Our goal is to unite Thomasians in one cheer,” Benjamin Reodica, Student Organizations Coordinating Council (SOCC) auditor said. “We got the job done since Thomasian well-wishers continued to increase after every game.”
“I was not really into UAAP basketball, but when I saw the increasing number of banners, I felt the call for support and that we could win,” College of Science junior Katrina Francia junior told the Varsitarian.
Francia’s claims were echoed by Accountancy junior Denise Morales. She said it was also because of the banners that she had seen around the campus that made her watch the games.
“The next thing I know, I was there standing the long ticket lines in Araneta,” she said.
But the most attention-grabbing sign this season was the “Relive ’96 in Season 69” streamer.
The banner was inspired by UST’s last title run in 1996. It also turned out to be a prophecy realized for the Tigers and Thomasians.

No game over
If you thought that the UAAP basketball fever ended with the Tigers winning the title, think again.
Establishments around UST also had their fair share of banners.
Take for instance the two banners displayed in front of Jollibee last October.
Fel Pabustan, the store manager, said the banners paid tribute to the Tiger spirit.
“We were captivated by the never-say-die spirit of the Tigers as they turned from underdogs to stars this year,” Pabustan said.
A group of banners in yellow, white and gold are displayed across the University’s P. Noval sports complex sponsored by the Ministop convenience store on P. Noval St., Red Images, and Accel.
A congratulations banner for UST was also unfurled at the door of Pizzahut on Lacson Ave.
Thomasians who saw the banners said they felt proud that the Tigers’ efforts were recognized.
“Even though I’m not a varsity player, I felt good about the banners because everybody seemed to be supporting us,” College of Science student Raiza Caceres said.

Out of town
Surprisingly, the euphoria for the Tigers’ victory was felt not only on campus, but in other areas of the metropolis and as far north as Pampanga.
Pho Saigon restaurant on Banawe St. in Quezon City had a “Go USte” banner to welcome customers.
Although owned by UST Tigers’ manager Rudy Yu, it was the restaurant’s crew members who were responsible for the streamer.
Yu said the players (Tigers) usually spent their after-game days at the place.
“The planning they did at our place showed us how determined they were to win,” Pho Saigon manager Leonard Bulusan said. “They never faltered even after losing a game.”
From then on, the Pho Saigon people bet their cards on the Tigers by watching their games and making a banner. It must be noted The banner had been set up as early as September when the Tigers were still battling it out for third place.
“Before I knew it, there was a banner in front of our place,” Yu said. “My manager and crew members said they did not think twice in designing a banner as they wanted to express support for UST.”
Entering the city of San Fernando, Pampanga, travellers would spot a white and yellow streamer with “Congratulations, UST Tigers”.
Pampanga’s assistant information developer Voltaire San Pedro confirmed that the banner was courtesy of Governor Mark Lapid. He displayed the streamer to salute “kabalens” Jojo Duncil, Chester Taylor, and Mark Canlas for a job well done.
”We are proud of UST for topping the UAAP,” San Pedro told the Varsitarian. “The Pampangeño Tigers made us all proud of our province.”
Thomasians, who hailed from San Fernando, Pampanga, were also delighted to see the banner on their way home.
“I am amazed that the UST championship euphoria has gone as far as my province,” Arts and Letters junior Vince Bersola said. “I felt more proud as a Thomasian.”
The merry cornucopie of banners truly played a role in drumming up Thomasian support for the Tigers as well as boosting the morale of the players. After all, they need not to be on the court at the same time to share a common goal: triumph. Rieze Rose T. Calbay



The Cover



The Back Cover