

The UST administration has disbanded the Growling Tigers—including the players and its coaching staff—because of some coaches and players’ alleged involvement in game fixing and selling out games during the UAAP season concluded last December.

A UST insider who refused to be named for fear of reprisal spilled to Fastbreak that the UST administration learned of the sellout accidentally since one of the UST coaches was already under investigation for inflicting physical injury to a certain Growling Tiger.

As soon as the UST administration learned of the sellouts, the Dominican-run institution moved to dissolve the team this year or a month after losing in the UAAP Finals vs. FEU in three games.

Because of the sellout, one of the coaches and the team’s top players involved in the game fixing are said to have acquired brand new cars and even shopping for a million-worth house.

The Tigers, led by UAAP Mythical members Kevin Ferrer and Ed Daquioag, finished the elimination round with a league best 11-3 win-loss card.

UST handily beat then defending champions NU in the Final Four in one game, 64-55, earning the España-based squad its third UAAP Finals appearance in four years.

Come the Finals, UST came flat in Game 1 with a bad game from Daquioag (four points and five rebounds, four turnovers in 24 minutes). Ferrer also had a so-so performance with 15 points.

UST bounced back in Game 2 with a sensational 29 points and 11 rebounds from Ferrer, while Daquioag settled for 10 points.

In win or go home Game 3, Ferrer was nowhere to be found, scoring a forgettable six points. Daquioag led the Tigers with 21 points but committed turnovers in the waning seconds.

UST Head Coach Bong dela Cruz was fired this month.