UST Growling Tigers


The UST Growling Tigers are the college athletic teams representing the University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. They hold the most number of UAAP Overall Championships with 44 Seniors' Overall Championships and 21 Juniors' Overall Championships.
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

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.
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 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. Mrs. Felicitas Francisco, directress of the PE department, suggested the tiger as the new mascot due to its gold and white colors.
When it was UST's turn to be host in Season 55, 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. 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 when they participated in the UAAP from 1952 until their pullout in 1962.

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.

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 number of 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 number of championships behind FEU's 20.
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.
UST's last championship before the sweep was in 1967 when they were declared co-champions with UE in Season 30.
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 City, 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.


  • SeasonYearMenWomenBoys
    21939 Champions
    31940 Champions
    91946 Champions
    101947 Champions
    111948 Champions
    121949 Champions
    131950 Runners-up
    141951 Champions
    151952 Champions
    161953 Champions
    171954 Champions
    181955 Champions
    191956 Runners-up
    201957 Runners-up
    221959 Champions
    231960 3rd place
    241961 Runners-up
    271964 Champions
    281965 Runners-up
    291966 Runners-up
    301967 Champions
    311968 Runners-up
    321969 Runners-up
    341971 Runners-up
    391976 Runners-up
    401977 Runners-up
    411978 Runners-up
    421979 Runners-up Champions
    431980 Runners-up Runners-up
    441981 Runners-up
    451982 Runners-up Champions
    461983 Runners-up



Men
Women
Boys



  • MVP awardees
    SeasonYearMenWomenBoys
    151952Ning Ramos
    261963Valentino Rosabal
    291966Danny Florencio
    321969Garry Artajos
    421979Edmund Yee
    561993Dennis Espino
    571994Dennis EspinoGerard Francisco
    581995Chris Cantonjos
    591996Emmerson Oreta
    611998Alwyn Espiritu
    632000Jun Cortez
    642001Jun Cortez
    692006Jojo DuncilCharmaine Canuel
    702007Jervy Cruz
    712008Marichu Bacaro
    722009Dylan Ababou
    732010Kevin Ferrer
    802017CJ Cansino
    812018Grace Irebu
    822019Soulémane Chabi YoGrace Irebu

  • Rookie of the year awardees
    SeasonYearMenWomenBoys
    241961Valentino Rosabal
    581995Gerard Francisco
    652002Japs Cuan
    722009Jeric TengKevin Ferrer
    762013Aaron Reyes
    812018Tantoy Ferrer
    822019Mark Nonoy

3x3 basketball

The 3x3 basketball competition was introduced in Season 80 as a demonstration sport. 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.
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.
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.

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, 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 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. The Junior Tigresses have won four championships in the Shakey's Girls' Volleyball League.
The men's team were back-to-back UNIGAMES champions in 2016 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.


  • SeasonYearMenWomenGirlsBoys
    151952 Champions
    211958 Champions
    221959 Champions
    261963 Champions
    301967 Champions
    361973 Champions
    371974 Champions
    381975 Champions
    391976 Champions Champions
    431980 Champions
    471984 Champions
    481985 Champions Champions
    491986 Champions Champions
    501987 Champions
    511988 Runners-up Champions
    521989 Champions Champions
    531990 Runners-up Champions
    551992 Champions Runners-up
    561993 Champions
    571994 Runners-up Runners-up 3rd place 3rd place
    581995 Champions Runners-up Runners-up
    591996 Runners-up Champions 3rd place
    601997 Runners-up Champions Runners-up Runners-up



Men
Girls
Women



  • MVP awardees
    SeasonYearMenWomenGirls
    591996Roxanne Pimentel
    601997Johanna Botor
    611998Oliver John Manlapaz
    652002Anthony Irvin Guiao
    692006Venus Bernal
    702007Nazareno RoqueAlyssa Valdez
    712008Ray Karl DimaculanganAlyssa Valdez
    722009Henry James PecañaRhea DimaculanganAlyssa Valdez
    732010John Paul Torres
    Jayson Ramos
    742011Jayson Ramos
    752012Mark Gil Alfafara
    762013EJ Laure
    782015Eya Laure
    812018Cherry Rondina

  • Rookie of the year awardees
    SeasonYearMenWomenGirlsBoys
    672004Mary Jean Balse
    682005Lilet Mabbayad
    692006Marlon Macabulos
    702007Jayson Ramos
    712008Jelly Buan
    722009Jaja Santiago
    752012Eya Laure
    772014EJ Laure
    802017Milena AlessandriniCJ Segui
    812018Eya Laure
    822019Ela Raagas

Beach volleyball

The UAAP beach volleyball competition was introduced as a demonstration sport in Season 69 and was made into an official sport in Season 72. The UST Tiger Sands men's team who were formerly called the Tiger Spikers won the tournament in Season 71, while the women's team had two unofficial third place finishes in Seasons 69 and 71.
The Lady Spikers won their first championship in Season 74 after defeating Ateneo in the finals. In 2014, Cherry Rondina and Rica Rivera won the Season 77 championship in their rookie year. The Lady Spikers were defeated by Adamson the previous year. Rondina, who was named MVP that year went on to win three more championships and the same number of MVP awards until Season 81.
The Lady Spikers made history by winning their fourth-straight UAAP beach volleyball championship in Season 82. They hold the most UAAP titles won with seven. They won back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012 and then they went on to achieve a four-peat from 2016 to 2019 with an undefeated 27–0 win-loss record.
The Tiger Sands have a total of five championships, having won back-to-back in Seasons 81 and 82.

Men
Women



  • MVP awardees
    SeasonYearMenWomen
    712008Henry James Pecaña
    722009Jayson Ramos
    742011Judy Caballejo
    752012Maruja Banaticla
    772014Cherry Rondina
    792016Kris Roy GuzmanCherry Rondina
    802017Cherry Rondina
    812018Anthony Lemuel Arbasto, Jr.Cherry Rondina
    822019Rancel VargaBabylove Barbon

  • Rookie of the year awardees
    SeasonYearMenWomen
    722009Maruja Banaticla
    762013Kris Roy Guzman
    772014Rica Rivera
    792016Caitlyn Viray
    812018Jaron RequintonBabylove Barbon

Football

The formation of UST's football team dates back to the early days of the NCAA. The Golden Booters have a combined total of 35 NCAA and UAAP championships. They won four straight NCAA titles from 1926 until 1929. The men's team who were sparringly called the Growling Booters and the Tiger Booters achieved a three-peat in the UAAP from 1991 to 1993. They last won the championship in 2006.
The Golden Booters made it back to the finals and ended up as runners-up to the undefeated UP Maroon Booters in Season 80. Before Season 77, UST had only missed the playoffs once in a span of 13 years.
The UST Lady Booters won their first UAAP title in 2009, 14 years after women's football became an official sport in the league. They won the championship again in 2011.
The Juniors team that plays in a small pool of four teams have yet to get a podium finish since boys' football became a regular sport in UAAP Season 72.
UST's off-season training includes participation in the UNIGAMES, Ang Liga, the PFF Women's League, the Pinas Cup, and the Metro Manila Girls Football Association.


  • SeasonYearMenWomen
    11938 Champions
    501987 Champions
    521989 Runners-up
    531990 3rd place
    541991 Champions
    551992 Champions
    561993 Champions
    571994 Runners-up
    581995 3rd place
    591996 3rd place
    601997 3rd place
    611998 Runners-up
    621999 Champions Runners-up
    632000 3rd place 3rd place
    642001 Runners-up
    652002 Runners-up



Men
Women



  • MVP awardees
    SeasoYearMenWomen
    692006Ricardo Becite
    722009Mary Ignacio
    742011Marice Magdolot

  • Rookie of the year awardees
    SeasonYearMenWomen
    682005Mary Ignacio
    692006Mark David BasaLouella Amamuyo
    722009Christian de JuanMarianne Narciso
    732010Pearl Anjanette Aguilar
    792016Mary Joy Indac

Judo

The UST Lady Judokas team, headed by Head Coach Gerald Arce is the defending champion of the UAAP Women's Judo competition. The Lady Judokas won five titles in the 6 seasons, having first won in Seasons 73, 74, and 75. After they suffered a 4th-place finish in Season 76, they bounced-back and became the back-to-back champions of the UAAP from Seasons 77 and 78.

Cheerdance

The official Pep Squad and Drumline, the UST Yellow Jackets, and the official dance troupe, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe have won the UAAP Cheerdance Competition a league-leading eight times and holds the record for the longest championship run for five consecutive years. Their closest rival is the UP Pep Squad, which has been a consistent runner-up until 2007 when they snatched the title by a very thin margin from the Salinggawi Dance Troupe, which finished second.