MANILA, Philippines — Like David slaying Goliath.That is what coach Pido Jarencio is looking to pull off as his UST Growling Tigers battle the powerhouse UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball Final Four. 'This is a great stepping stone. We're now building something. We just need to be patient,' said Jarencio, who led UST to its first semifinal appearance in five years with a blowout 75-49 win over Adamson at the FilOil EcoOil Center Saturday.The Growling Tigers locked up the third seed with a 7-7 slate and are set for a semifinal showdown against the second place Fighting Maroons, who sport a 10-3 record.UP faces UE for its final elimination round game on Wednesday.'We're here in the playoffs and it's time to work again. We're going to create a game plan against UP. This is like a David and Goliath story, this would be a good fight. We're just going to prepare and fight. It's important that we all should be healthy.'At least on paper and what the standings showed, the Fighting Maroons are superior to the Growling Tigers especially with their lineup practically intact from their runner-up finish.Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, Francis Lopez, and MVP contender JD Cagulangan are out to lead UP.UST has the talent to battle that with Forth Padrigao, Mo Tounkara, and Nic Cabanero albeit only Padrigao has the championship experience with Ateneo and the rest of the Tigers lineup being first timers in the playoffs.But anything can happen and the Growling Tigers are out to make it happen.'They're twice to beat but who knows, the ball is round, and we could get lucky. We're going to stay grounded and we're going to work for it,' said Jarencio.This UP-UST semis showdown was exactly the pairing in the Season 82 Final Four in 2019, when the third seed Growling Tigers beat the second seed and twice-to-beat Fighting Maroons thanks to Renzo Subido's clutch triple.'That was 2019, that was the Renzo Subido 3-point shot, winning shot. Now we're going to make our own story. The players at that time are no longer here in the UAAP. This year, UP's players seemed to be stronger but I have confidence in my players,' said Jarencio.
