# 2009 UST Growling Tigers basketball team

The 2009 UST Growling Tigers men's basketball team represented University of Santo Tomas in the 72nd season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The men's basketball tournament for the school year 2009-10 began on July 11, 2009 and the host school for the season was Far Eastern University.
UST finished fourth at the end of the double round-robin eliminations. They won six games against eight losses. The Growling Tigers were on back-to-back losses going into their final match of the eliminations. The De La Salle Green Archers who were a game behind them on a 5–8 win–loss record could end up in a tie and eliminate the Tigers due to a superior +13 quotient.
They went on to lose against the UE Red Warriors, but the NU Bulldogs had indirectly helped them qualify for the playoffs by beating La Salle who eventually finished the eliminations with a 5–9 record.
The Tigers made it back to the Final Four after missing out on the playoffs in Season 71 but lost to the No. 1-ranked Ateneo Blue Eagles, who had a twice-to-beat advantage over them.
They had an average winning margin of 9.3 points and an average losing margin of 12.9 points.
They experienced a 27-point blowout loss to the FEU Tamaraws and had a double-overtime loss to La Salle, both in the first round.
Team captain Dylan Ababou was named Most Valuable Player and scoring leader of the season, while Jeric Teng won the Rookie of the Year award. Ababaou was also chosen Player of the Week by the UAAP Press Corps for the duration of July 23–26 when he topscored for the Tigers with 28 points in their 92–88 win over UE.

## Roster
### Depth chart

| Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 |
| C | Afuang | Green | Cam |
| PF | Ababou | Camus | Maliksi |
| SF | Mirza | Mariano | Rushdy |
| SG | Bautista | Teng | Ungria |
| PG | Fortuna | Aytona | Felix |

## Roster changes

All but two of the players from the Season 69 champion team have graduated. Season 70 MVP Jervy Cruz, point guard Japs Cuan, former team captain Francis Allera, Mel Gile, and centers Badong Canlas and Chester Taylor have all used up their playing years and the only members remaining from the team are Dylan Ababou, who is set to lead the team as this year's captain and returning forward AC Marquez.
Ababou will be joined by veterans Khasim Mirza, Chris Camus, and Allein Maliksi who has recovered from an ACL injury the previous year. The team will have eight new players composed of rookies and members of the Team B training pool.

### Subtractions

| Pos. | No. | Player | Height | Year | High school | Notes |
| C | 7 | Mark Angelo Canlas | 6' 5" | 4th | Don Bosco Academy, Pampanga | Graduated |
| SG | 8 | Emilian Vargas | 5' 11" | 3rd | | Transferred to Emilio Aguinaldo College |
| SF | 9 | Melchor Gile | 6' 4" | 4th | | Graduated |
| SF | 16 | Franciz Philip Allera | 6' 3" | 5th | Dole Philippines School | Graduated |
| C | 17 | Chester Lloyd Taylor | 6' 4" | 5th | Colegio San Agustin – Makati | Graduated |
| PG | 18 | John Paul Cuan | 5' 7" | 5th | University of Santo Tomas | Graduated |
| SG | 19 | Carlos Amador Fenequito | 6' 0" | 4th | | Relegated to Team B |
| C | 20 | Jervy Cruz | 6' 4" | 5th | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College | Graduated |
| PG | 21 | Jackson Wong | 5' 10" | 2nd | Philippine Academy of Sakya-Manila | On leave |

### Additions

| Pos. | No. | Player | Height | Year | High school | Notes |
| C | 5 | Darell John Green | 6' 3" | 1st | Colegio de San Juan de Letran | Rookie |
| SF | 10 | Aljon Mariano | 6' 3" | 1st | San Beda College–Rizal | Rookie |
| PF | 11 | Andre Charles Marquez | 6' 3" | 2nd | La Salle Greenhills | Returning from Season 69 |
| SF | 13 | Hadi Rushdy | 6' 2" | 1st | Colegio San Agustin – Makati | Rookie |
| SG | 16 | Jeric Allen Teng | 6' 2" | 1st | Xavier School | Rookie |
| SG | 17 | Aljohn Gil Ungria | 6' 1" | 1st | Colegio de San Lorenzo | Promoted from Team B |
| SG | 19 | Eduardo Aytona, Jr. | 5' 10" | 1st | University of Santo Tomas | Rookie |
| SG | 20 | Andrew Joseph Felix | 5' 11" | 1st | PAREF Southridge School | Promoted from Team B |
| SF | 21 | Marco Martin Cam | 6' 0" | 1st | San Sebastian College-Recoletos | Rookie |

## Coaching staff

Beaujing Acot, the Growling Tigers' assistant coach for defense has resigned from his post. He had informed head coach Pido Jarencio of his decision through a text message a month before the UAAP tournament began. He had coached the Tigers during their preseason games in the summer but had stopped showing up to practices after.
Assistant coach Rabbi Tomacruz has also left the coaching staff to concentrate on his studies. The former UST Glowing Goldie who was in charge of liaisons and training of the Tigers' Team B has decided to pursue a career in nursing.
Acot's tasks will be divided between Jarencio and Senen Dueñas, the team's assistant coach for offense. Gina Francisco, former team captain of the UST senior women's basketball team will assume Tomacruz's duties in the team.

## Schedule and results
### Preseason tournaments

The Nike Summer League games were aired on Studio 23.
Preseason game log :
2009 Nike Summer League: 1–4 :
| Game | Date • Time | Opponent | Result | Record | High points | Location |
| 1 | Apr 20 • 12:00 pm | JRU Heavy Bombers | L 55–66 | 0–1 | | FEU Gym Manila |
| 2 | May 4 • 9:00 am | DBTC Greywolves | W 79–64 | 1–1 | Teng (20) | FEU Gym Manila |
| 3 | May 7 • 1:30 pm | NU Bulldogs | L | 1–2 | | FEU Gym Manila |
| 4 | May 12 • 1:30 pm | Letran Knights | L 75–81 | 1–3 | | FEU Gym Manila |
| 5 | May 14 • 9:00 am | UP Fighting Maroons | L 62–71 | 1–4 | Bautista (16) | FEU Gym Manila |
2009 Millennium Basketball League–Open Basketball championship: 5–2 :
| Game | Date • Time | Opponent | Result | Record | High points | Location |
| 1 | May 18 | RTU Blue Thunders | W 87–75 | 1–0 | | |
| 2 | May 20 | Lyceum Pirates | L 67–71 | 1–1 | | Lyceum Gym Manila |
| 3 | Jun 3 | Philippine National Police | W | 2–1 | | |
| 4 | Jun 5 | Wang's Ballclub | W 92–87 | 3–1 | | Lyceum Gym Manila |
| 5 | Jun 8 | Vescon-Cerel End of eliminations | W 87–78 | 4–1 | | |
| 6 | Jun 15 | Wang's Ballclub Semifinal game | W 94–84 | 5–1 | Maliksi (18) | RTU Gym Mandaluyong |
| 7 | Jun 23 | Lyceum Pirates Championship game | L 73–91 | 5–1 | Maliksi (17) | Lyceum Gym Manila |
(#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in UTC+08:00.
↑ Lost by forfeit
↑ Won by forfeit :

### UAAP games

Elimination games were played in a double round-robin format and all of UST's games were aired on Studio 23 and Balls.
UAAP Season 72 game log :
Elimination round: 6–8 :
| Game | Date • Time | Opponent | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location |
| 1 | Jul 11 • 2:00 pm | Adamson Soaring Falcons | W 76–75 | 1–0 | Mirza (23) | Ababou (7) | Fortuna (5) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 2 | Jul 16 • 2:00 pm | NU Bulldogs | W 104–89 | 2–0 | Ababou (30) | Mirza (15) | Mirza (6) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 3 | Jul 19 • 4:00 pm | Ateneo Blue Eagles | L 77–93 | 2–1 | Maliksi (20) | Mirza (8) | Tied (3) | PhilSports Arena Pasig |
| 4 | Jul 25 • 4:00 pm | UE Red Warriors | W 92–88 | 3–1 | Ababou (28) | Camus (14) | Bautista (8) | PhilSports Arena Pasig |
| 5 | Aug 2 • 4:00 pm | De La Salle Green Archers | L 92–101$^{2OT}$ | 3–2 | Ababou (19) | Ababou (11) | Fortuna (5) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 6 | Aug 6 • 4:00 pm | FEU Tamaraws | L 63–90 | 3–3 | Teng (20) | Mirza (9) | Tied (3) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 7 | Aug 8 • 4:00 pm | UP Fighting Maroons End of R1 of eliminations | W 95–85 | 4–3 | Ababou (23) | Teng (8) | Tied (3) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 8 | Aug 15 • 4:00 pm | FEU Tamaraws | L 67–75 | 4–4 | Ababou (23) | Maliksi (9) | Fortuna (5) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 9 | Aug 20 • 2:00 pm | UP Fighting Maroons | W 93–88 | 5–4 | Ababou (23) | Camus (10) | Tied (6) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 10 | Aug 23 • 2:00 pm | Ateneo Blue Eagles | L 70–80 | 5–5 | Ababou (19) | Mirza (12) | Fortuna (6) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 11 | Aug 30 • 2:00 pm | NU Bulldogs | W 79–58 | 6–5 | Ababou (20) | Mirza (10) | Tied (4) | The Arena San Juan |
| 12 | Sep 3 • 4:00 pm | De La Salle Green Archers | L 64–68 | 6–6 | Ababou (19) | Mirza (12) | Fortuna (3) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
| 13 | Sep 6 • 4:00 pm | Adamson Soaring Falcons | L 64–83 | 6–7 | Bautista (14) | Mirza (12) | Fortuna (4) | The Arena San Juan |
| 14 | Sep 10 • 4:00 pm | UE Red Warriors End of R2 of eliminations | L 67–77 | 6–8 | Bautista (12) | Ababou (10) | Tied (4) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
Final Four: 0–1 :
| Game | Date • Time | Seed | Opponent | Result | Series | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location |
| 1 | Sep 20 • 3:30 pm | (#4) | (#1) Ateneo Blue Eagles | L 64–81 | 0–1 (6–9) | Ababou (19) | Mirza (11) | Fortuna (4) | Araneta Coliseum Quezon City |
(#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in UTC+08:00. Source: inboundPASS :

### Postseason tournament

Postseason game log :
2009 Philippine Collegiate Championship: 1–1 :
| Game | Date • Time | Seed | Opponent | Result | Series | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location |
| 1 | Nov 30 • 4:00 pm | (#9) | (#8) JRU Heavy Bombers Round of 16 | W 64–62 | 1–0 | Mirza (23) | | | Ormoc Superdome Ormoc City |
| 2 | Dec 4 • 2:00 pm | (#9) | (#1) Ateneo Blue Eagles Quarterfinal game | L 72–81 | 1–1 | Maliksi (25) | | | Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig |
(#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in UTC+08:00. :

## UAAP statistics
### Eliminations

| Player | GP | MPG | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | PPG |
| Dylan Ababou | 14 | 32.9 | 98 | 240 | 40.8 | 15 | 56 | 26.8 | 57 | 81 | 70.4 | 7.1 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 18.9 |
| Khasim Mirza | 14 | 30.3 | 70 | 182 | 38.5 | 14 | 62 | 22.6 | 35 | 55 | 63.6 | 8.8 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 13.5 |
| Jeric Teng | 14 | 23.4 | 49 | 119 | 41.2 | 14 | 55 | 25.5 | 48 | 61 | 78.7 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 11.4 |
| Jeric Fortuna | 13 | 31.4 | 35 | 89 | 39.3 | 21 | 41 | 51.2 | 14 | 16 | 87.5 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 2.8 | 8.1 |
| Allein Maliksi | 11 | 14.3 | 29 | 81 | 35.8 | 10 | 28 | 35.7 | 20 | 25 | 80.0 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 8.0 |
| Tata Bautista | 14 | 16.4 | 32 | 97 | 33.0 | 31 | 78 | 39.7 | 14 | 16 | 87.5 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 7.2 |
| Chris Camus | 14 | 23.6 | 36 | 74 | 48.6 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 27 | 39 | 69.2 | 6.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 7.1 |
| Melo Afuang | 14 | 14.4 | 19 | 52 | 36.5 | 1 | 5 | 20.0 | 8 | 13 | 61.5 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.4 |
| Darell Green | 12 | 7.4 | 8 | 26 | 30.8 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 6 | 66.7 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1.7 |
| Aljon Mariano | 10 | 4.3 | 3 | 11 | 27.3 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 4 | 6 | 66.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| Eddie Aytona | 12 | 5.2 | 4 | 15 | 26.7 | 2 | 9 | 22.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Marco Cam | 6 | 1.7 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| Andrew Felix | 6 | 2.5 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 |
| Aljohn Ungria | 9 | 3.1 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| AC Marquez | 4 | 2.8 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Hadi Rushdy | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total | 14 | 40.7 | 385 | 997 | 38.6 | 103 | 343 | 30.0 | 231 | 322 | 71.7 | 44.4 | 14.9 | 7.1 | 3.7 | 18.5 | 78.6 |
| Opponents | 14 | 40.7 | 406 | 993 | 40.9 | 110 | 375 | 29.3 | 240 | 399 | 60.2 | 41.2 | 16.5 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 16.8 | 82.1 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | MPG | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | PPG |
| Dylan Ababou | 1 | 38 | 6 | 18 | 33.3 | 3 | 11 | 27.3 | 4 | 6 | 66.7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 19 |
| Khasim Mirza | 1 | 31 | 3 | 12 | 25.0 | 2 | 8 | 25.0 | 6 | 8 | 75.0 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| Jeric Teng | 1 | 22 | 3 | 11 | 27.3 | 2 | 6 | 33.3 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Tata Bautista | 1 | 22 | 2 | 7 | 28.6 | 2 | 6 | 33.3 | 5 | 8 | 62.5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Jeric Fortuna | 1 | 35 | 3 | 11 | 27.3 | 0 | 5 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Melo Afuang | 1 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Chris Camus | 1 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Allein Maliksi | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Eddie Aytona | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 40.0 | 19 | 69 | 27.5 | 9 | 40 | 22.5 | 19 | 28 | 67.9 | 43 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 64 |
| Opponents | 1 | 40.0 | 30 | 59 | 50.8 | 6 | 16 | 37.5 | 14 | 21 | 66.7 | 40 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 19 | 81 |

## Awards

| Name | Award | Date |
| Team | Millennium Basketball League runners-up | 23 Jun 2009 |
| Allein Maliksi | Millennium Basketball League MVP | 23 Jun 2009 |
| Dylan Ababou | Season MVP | 1 Oct 2009 |
| Dylan Ababou | Mythical team | 1 Oct 2009 |
| Dylan Ababou | Scoring champion | 1 Oct 2009 |
| Dylan Ababou | Player of the Week | 23–26 Jul 2009 |
| Jeric Teng | Rookie of the year | 1 Oct 2009 |
| Jeric Fortuna | Best 3-point field goal percentage | 1 Oct 2009 |

## Players drafted into the PBA

Khasim Mirza was picked in the second round and was selected 16th overall in the 2010 PBA draft by the Ryan Gregorio-led Meralco Bolts on August 29, 2010. Allein Maliksi and Dylan Ababou, meanwhile, applied for the 2011 PBA draft and were selected eighth and tenth overall respectively, both in the first round on August 28, 2011.
| Year | Round | Pick | Overall | Player | PBA team |
| 2010 | 2 | 6 | 16 | Khasim Mirza | Meralco Bolts |
| 2011 | 1 | 8 | 8 | Allein Maliksi | Petron Blaze Boosters |
| 2011 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Dylan Ababou | Barako Bull Energy |