02/10/2026
20 years ago.
20 YEARS SINCE THE TIGERS' CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING CINDERELLA SEASON 🐯🏆
On this day in 2006, the UST Growling Tigers capped a Cinderella run by defeating the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 76-74, in Game 3 of the finals to claim the UAAP Season 69 championship.
It remains UST’s most recent UAAP men’s basketball title and its 18th overall. That season, Pido Jarencio earned Coach of the Year honors in his first year with the Tigers, while Jojo Duncil was named Finals MVP and Clutch Player of the Year.
Forward Jervy Cruz earned a spot on the Mythical Five, while Dylan Ababou was named Sixth Man of the Year.
Few expected the third-seeded Tigers to make the finals that season. UST finished the elimination round with a 6-6 record and had to go through host team UE Red Warriors, who held a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
The Tigers narrowly overcame the Red Warriors in two tightly contested games, taking the opener, 79-75, before edging UE again, 82-81, in the second game.
Despite the upset, UST still faced a difficult path ahead. The Tigers then met top-seeded Ateneo, which had posted an impressive 10-2 record in the elimination round.
While UST entered the series as the underdog, the Tigers had reason for optimism after splitting their elimination-round meetings with Ateneo. UST dropped the first-round matchup, 114-78, but bounced back in the second round with an 88-80 overtime victory.
Game 1 came down to the final two possessions. After a ball deflection reset the play, Growling Tiger Allan Evangelista knocked down a fadeaway jumper over Blue Eagle Doug Kramer to give UST a 72-71 lead with just one second remaining.
However, what appeared to be Evangelista’s game-winning shot was answered by a last-second catch-and-shoot basket from Kramer, handing UST a heartbreaking 73-72 loss in Game 1.
UST responded emphatically in Game 2, overwhelming Ateneo, 87-71.
The do-or-die Game 3 turned into a tightly contested battle. The Tigers showed composure and resilience in the closing minutes after falling behind by five, 64-59, with only 1 minute and 17 seconds left.
Tiger forward Anthony Espiritu drilled a crucial 3-pointer before sophomore Mark Canlas followed with an offensive putback to knot the score with 37 seconds remaining.
Ateneo had a chance to retake the lead on the ensuing possession, but star forward JC Intal missed a runner against the tough defense of Dylan Ababou. Tiger point guard J**s Cuan—now an assistant coach under Jarencio with the current-day Tigers—grabbed the rebound and dribbled toward center court, sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, Jojo Duncil hit a pump-fake jumper over Chris Tiu, while Intal answered with a driving layup to tie the game at 74. Ababou then made one of two free throws after drawing a foul from Zion Laterre on the next play, putting the Tigers ahead, 75-74.
Intal missed another runner on the ensuing possession, while Jun Cortez sank another free throw to give UST a 76-74 lead with 3.7 seconds remaining. Ateneo’s Jai Reyes—now the UAAP basketball commissioner—launched a desperation midcourt attempt against two Tiger defenders, but the shot fell short, sending the Tigers to the championship.
