UST Growling Tigers, Tigresses, Tiger Cubs and Tigress Cubs

UST Growling Tigers, Tigresses, Tiger Cubs and Tigress Cubs
UST Growling Tigers, Tigresses, Tiger Cubs and Tigress Cubs
School	University of Santo Tomas
League	UAAP
Joined	1938; (NCAA founding member–1924)
Location	España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
Team colors	Gold, black, and white;
Juniors' team	Tiger Cubs
Website	sportsinstitute.ust.edu.ph
Seniors' general championships
	UAAP: 47 1958–59; 1960–61; 1961–62; 1962–63; 1963–64; 1964–65; 1967–68; 1970–71; 1975–76; 1976–77; 1979–80; 1982–83; 1983–84; 1984–85; 1985–86; 1987–88; 1988–89; 1989–90; 1990–91; 1991–92; 1992–93; 1993–94; 1994–95; 1995–96; 1996–97; 1998–99; 1999–2000; 2000–01; 2001–02; 2002–03; 2003–04; 2004–05; 2005–06; 2006–07; 2007–08; 2008–09; 2009–10; 2010–11; 2011–12; 2014–15; 2016–17; 2017–18; 2018–19; 2019–20; 2021–22; 2022–23; 2023–24; ;
Juniors' general championships
	UAAP: 23 1995–96; 1996–97; 1997–98; 1998–99; 1999–2000; 2002–03; 2003–04; 2004–05; 2006–07; 2007–08; 2008–09; 2009–10; 2010–11; 2011–12; 2012–13; 2014–15; 2015–16; 2016–17; 2017–18; 2018–19; 2019–20; 2022–23; 2023–24; ;

The UST Growling Tigers, Tigresses, Tiger Cubs and Tigress Cubs are the collegiate men's and women's, and high school men's and women's, respectively, varsity teams of University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. They hold the most UAAP Overall Championships with 47 Seniors' Overall Championships (out of 76 seasons) and 23 Juniors' Overall Championships (out of 28 seasons).^[2]

UST is one of four member universities that participate in all 15 sporting events of the league. They also take part in various sports leagues such as the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, the Premier Volleyball League and the UNIGAMES.

Team identity

Mascot and colors

Gold and white: UST's school colors.

The Bengal tiger's gold, white and black stripes closely resemble UST's school colors. The Growling Tiger has been the school's official mascot since 1992.

The gold and white colors of the flag of Vatican City were adopted by the University of Santo Tomas for their school colors because of its Pontifical status.^[3]

They were known as the Glowing Goldies until a name change in 1992. UST Rector Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, who was appointed in 1991 recalled in a speech to the school's administrators and faculty members during his 2007 Rector's Report on how UST's present Growling Tigers moniker came to be.

It was during the parade of school mascots in the opening ceremonies of Season 54 (1991–92) when an embarrassing incident occurred. Unlike the other member schools, UST had no mascot to represent their varsity teams and it gave the host school a hard time in coming up with a suitable representation for the Glowing Goldies. A “fat Dominican friar” who was carrying bags of gold had come out with the other mascots and drew a lot of laughter from the crowd in attendance.

Fr. De la Rosa later instructed PE moderator Bro. Rolando Atienza to conduct a naming activity for a new mascot.^[4] Mrs. Felicitas Francisco, directress of the PE department, suggested the tiger as the new mascot due to its gold and white colors.^[5]

When it was UST's turn to be host in Season 55 (1992–93), the new growling tiger mascot debuted in the opening ceremonies. Since then, Mrs. Francisco always donned her tiger-striped coat when she attends UST playoff games.^[5] The High School boys' team followed suit by changing their name from the "Golden Nuggets" to the "Tiger Cubs".

The Manila Central University Purple Owls once used the tiger mascot (with purple and gold colors) when they participated in the UAAP from 1952 until their pullout in 1962.^[6]

Varsity team monikers

The names of the University of Santo Tomas collegiate varsity teams that participate in the 15 UAAP sporting events are shown in the table below.

Sport	Men	Women	Boys	Girls
Basketball	Growling Tigers	Growling Tigresses	Growling Tiger Cubs	Growling Tigress Cubs
Volleyball	Golden Spikers	Golden Tigresses	Junior Golden Spikers	Junior Golden Tigresses
Beach volleyball	Tiger Sands	Lady Spikers	Junior Tiger Sands	Junior Golden Tigresses
Football	Golden Booters	Lady Booters	Junior Golden Booters	No team
Baseball	Golden Sox	No team	Junior Golden Sox	No team
Softball	No team	Softbelles	No team	No team
Judo	Golden Judokas	Lady Judokas	Junior Golden Judokas	Junior Lady Judokas
Taekwondo	Tiger Jins	Lady Jins	Junior Tiger Jins	No team
Fencing	Tiger Fencers	Lady Fencers	Junior Tiger Fencers	Junior Lady Fencers
Swimming	Tiger Sharks	Lady Tiger Sharks	Junior Tiger Sharks	Junior Lady Tiger Sharks
Track and field	Tiger Tracksters	Lady Tracksters	Junior Tiger Tracksters	No team
Badminton	Golden Shuttlers	Lady Shuttlers	No team	No team
Tennis	Tiger Tennisters	Lady Tennisters	No team	No team
Table tennis	Tiger Paddlers	Lady Paddlers	Junior Tiger Paddlers	No team
Chess	Male Woodpushers	Female Woodpushers	Junior Tiger Woodpushers	No team
Arnis	Golden Arnisadors	Lady Arnisadors	Junior Golden Arnisadors	No team
Cheerleading	Salinggawi Dance Troupe		JHS Pep Squad
Streetdance	Prime		Galvanize
Esport	Teletigers

Basketball

The UST men's and boys' basketball teams were first formed in the year of the NCAA's foundation in 1924. UST won their first and only NCAA men's championship in 1930.

In the UAAP, they have the most combined championships with 40 from the men's, women's and boys' teams. The men's total of 18 titles is tied with the UE Red Warriors' for the second most championships behind FEU's 20.^[7]

In 1993 the Growling Tigers finished the double-round eliminations with a rare 14–0 sweep and were declared automatic champions of the UAAP Season 56 men's tournament. This was the start of the Growling Tigers' four-peat championship run in the UAAP. The Tigers faced and defeated the De La Salle Green Archers for three consecutive finals series.^[8]

UST's last championship before the sweep was in 1967 when they were declared co-champions with UE in Season 30.^[9]

The Tiger Cubs and the Tigresses also have successful basketball programs with each team having a total of 11 UAAP championships.

In 1994, the men's, women's and juniors' teams won the UAAP Season 57 basketball championship in their respective divisions. This was the only time that a triple championship was achieved in the UAAP. UST also won double championships in Seasons 58 and 69 with the Growling Tigers and the Tigresses winning both their division titles in both years.

UST's off-season training includes participation in summer basketball tournaments. The Tiger Cubs regularly join the MILCU Summer Showcase, Smart City HOOPS, Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup juniors tournament and the PCABL Freego Cup. The Tigresses recently played in the Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament and Breakdown Basketball Invitational tournament, while the Growling Tigers continue to participate in the MILCU Under-25 tournaments, the PBA D-League, Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, Breakdown Basketball Invitational, Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament, the Millennium Open Basketball championship, as well as pocket tournaments in the provinces such as the Kim Lope Asis Invitational Basketball Tournament in Bayugan, the Kadayawan Basketball Invitational in Davao City, and the Republica Cup collegiate tournament in Malolos. They have also competed in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, an annual postseason tournament for schools that topped their respective leagues.

The UST Tigress Cubs girls' basketball team were declared co-champions with Adamson in Season 82's inaugural exhibition tournament after the deciding Game three of their finals series was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tigresses finished second in the four-team eliminations with 4 wins and 2 losses behind the Lady Falcons' perfect 6–0 record.^[10]

UAAP seasons

Season	Year	Men	Women	Boys
2	1939	Champions^[a]
3	1940	Champions
9	1946	Champions
10	1947	Champions^[b]
11	1948	Champions
12	1949	Champions
13	1950	Runners-up
14	1951	Champions
15	1952	Champions
16	1953	Champions
17	1954			Champions
18	1955	Champions
19	1956	Runners-up
20	1957	Runners-up
22	1959	Champions
23	1960	3rd place
24	1961	Runners-up
27	1964	Champions
28	1965	Runners-up
29	1966	Runners-up
30	1967	Champions^[c]
31	1968	Runners-up
32	1969	Runners-up
34	1971	Runners-up
39	1976		Runners-up
40	1977		Runners-up
41	1978		Runners-up
42	1979	Runners-up	Champions
43	1980	Runners-up	Runners-up
44	1981		Runners-up
45	1982		Runners-up	Champions
46	1983		Runners-up

Season	Year	Men	Women	Boys
47	1984	Runners-up	Champions
48	1985	Runners-up	Champions
49	1986		Runners-up	Runners-up
50	1987		Champions	Runners-up
51	1988		Champions	Runners-up
52	1989		Champions
53	1990		Champions
54	1991	3rd place	Runners-up
55	1992		Champions
56	1993	Champions^[d]	Runners-up
57	1994	Champions	Champions	Champions
58	1995	Champions	Champions	Runners-up
59	1996	Champions		Champions
60	1997	3rd place		Runners-up
61	1998			Champions
62	1999	Runners-up		Runners-up
63	2000			Runners-up
64	2001			Champions
69	2006	Champions	Champions
70	2007		3rd place
71	2008		3rd place
72	2009			3rd place
73	2010		3rd place	Runners-up
74	2011		3rd place
75	2012	Runners-up		3rd place
76	2013	Runners-up	3rd place
78	2015	Runners-up
80	2016		3rd place	3rd place
81	2017		3rd place
82	2019	Runners-up	Runners-up
Total 1st place		18	11	11^[e]

^ Co-champions with FEU & UP
^ Co-champions with FEU
^ Co-champions with UE
^ Automatic champions via sweep
^ The UST Nuggets won five UAAP Juniors championships between Seasons 18 & 39

Other tournaments

Men

1930 NCAA Season 7 – Champions
2003 Philippine Collegiate Champions' League – 3rd place^[a]
2004 Home and Away Invitational League – Runners-up
2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions' League – Champions
2014 Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament – Runners-up
2015 Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament – Runners-up
2017 32nd Kadayawan Basketball Invitational – Champions
2017 7th Kim Lope Asis Invitational tournament – Runners-up
2017 Republica Cup Basketball tournament – Runners-up
2018 33rd Kadayawan Basketball Invitational – Runners-up
2018 8th Kim Lope Asis Invitational tournament – Champions
2019 NBA China 5v5 Grand Finals – Runners-up

Women

2002 Women's Basketball League – Champions
2003 Women's Basketball League – Champions
2004 Women's Basketball League – Champions
2005 Home and Away Invitational League – Runners-up
2005 Women's Basketball League – Champions
2006 Women's Basketball League – Champions
2013 UNIGAMES – Champions
2019 Fr. Martin Cup Summer tournament – Runners-up
2019 Breakdown Basketball Invitational Summer Cup – Runners-up

Boys

1989 National Secondary Title – Champions
2017 MILCU x Got Skills Hard to Guard U17 tournament – Champions
2019 12th PCABL Freego Cup – Runners-up

^ tied with University of the Visayas

Notable players

MVP awardees
Season	Year	Men	Women	Boys
15	1952	Ning Ramos
26	1963	Valentino Rosabal
29	1966	Danny Florencio
32	1969	Garry Artajos
42	1979	Edmund Yee
56	1993	Dennis Espino
57	1994	Dennis Espino		Gerard Francisco
58	1995	Chris Cantonjos
59	1996			Emmerson Oreta
61	1998			Alwyn Espiritu
63	2000			Jun Cortez
64	2001			Jun Cortez
69	2006	Jojo Duncil^[a]	Charmaine Canuel^[b]
70	2007	Jervy Cruz
71	2008		Marichu Bacaro
72	2009	Dylan Ababou
73	2010			Kevin Ferrer
80	2017			CJ Cansino
81	2018		Grace Irebu
82	2019	Soulémane Chabi Yo	Grace Irebu

Rookie of the year awardees
Season	Year	Men	Women	Boys
24	1961	Valentino Rosabal
58	1995	Gerard Francisco
65	2002			Japs Cuan
72	2009	Jeric Teng		Kevin Ferrer
76	2013			Aaron Reyes
81	2018		Tantoy Ferrer
82	2019	Mark Nonoy

^ Duncil was the Finals MVP. Adamson's Ken Bono was the Season MVP
^ Canuel was the Finals MVP. Ateneo's Cassy Tioseco was the Season MVP

3x3 basketball

The 3x3 basketball competition was introduced in Season 80 as a demonstration sport.^[11] UST did not join the men's inaugural contest, but the Growling Tigresses composed of Jhenn Angeles, Angel Anies, Karla Manuel and Carol Sangalang placed third behind the Adamson Lady Falcons and champions NU Lady Bulldogs.^[12]

In its second year, the UST Growling Tigers ended up tied with the UP Fighting Maroons and the De La Salle Green Archers at 3 wins and 3 losses behind the undefeated Ateneo Blue Eagles. They were represented by Renzo Subido, Soulémane Chabi Yo, Dave Ando and Rhenz Abando. The women's team of Sai Larosa, Tantoy Ferrer, Lon Rivera and Carol Sangalang also tied UE and Adamson's 4–3 record behind the undefeated and defending champions, the NU Lady Bulldogs.^[13]

Beginning in Season 82, the 3x3 competition is set to become an official tournament in the UAAP. The sport, with the participation of all eight UAAP schools will begin in March 2020.^[14]

Volleyball

The UST Tiger Spikers have 19 UAAP men's volleyball championships, while the Golden Tigresses have 16 women's volleyball crowns and the Junior Tigresses have six girls' volleyball titles. The Tigresses were champions for seven consecutive years from Seasons 47 thru 53,^[15] while both the men's and girls' teams achieved a three-peat in Seasons 70, 71 and 72. The Junior Tiger Spikers have one UAAP crown which they won in Season 80.

The Tiger Spikers also participate in the Spikers' Turf, a preseason league where they finished second in the 2018 Collegiate Conference^[16] and third on two occasions in 2016 and 2017. The Golden Tigresses have had better success in the women's preseason tournaments, having won the most titles among collegiate teams in the Premier Volleyball League with six, beginning at the inaugural tournament in 2004 when the league was still known as the Shakey's V-League.^[17] The Junior Tigresses have won four championships in the Shakey's Girls' Volleyball League.^[18]

The men's team were back-to-back UNIGAMES champions in 2016^[19] and 2017, while the Tigresses have a total of six volleyball championships, beginning in 2009 and capped by a three-peat from 2016 until 2018.^[20]