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Coach Aric Del Rosario reminisces on the UST-DLSU wars of the 1990s

This week DLSU and UST square off for the UAAP Men's Seniors Basketball title. The matchup harks back to an earlier time when these two programs were the class of the league.

The Growling Tigers and Green Archers gave us one of the fiercest rivalries of the nineties, but even though UST won a four-peat in the early part of the decade, it's the one that got away that then-UST coach Aric Del Rosario remembers the most.

Nag time out ako, sinabi ko sa mga bata, walang do-double (team). Walang mag the-three points.” intones Del Rosario about the dying seconds of the 1999 Finals Game 3, with UST leading by 67-64 and with La Salle having possession.

Tiger Gilbert Lao wasn't listening closely enough, and sagged off Dino Aldeguer above the key. DLSU gets Aldeguer the ball and he swishes it from three-point range, with a foul to boot. Aldeguer missed the charity but DLSU delivered in OT, 78-75 to send their fans in the Cuneta Astrodome in delirium. It would be the second of DLSU's four consecutive championships. Watch a clip of those manic last moments here.

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That feat was first accomplished by Del Rosario's side from 1994 to 1997 with names now firmly etched in Santo Tomas hoops lore. Chris Cantonjos (now an assistant for UST.) Rey Evangelista. Siot Tanquincen. Patrick Fran. Dennis Espino. Udoy Belmonte, now a PAL pilot. And Henry Ong and his three pointers from nowhere.

Experienced kase mga player ko nun. Magulang din maglaro. Lahat sila nag-PBA.”

UST swept the 1993 season, ironically the first of the Final Four era. The league handed them the trophy right then and there. In 1994 and 1995 UST spotted DLSU the first game of the best-of-three finals then roared back with Game 2 and 3 victories to snatch the trophy in both seasons. In 1996 UST swept the Archers in two games in the finals.

Oddly enough, Del Rosario, being the true coach that he is, rues that during that four-peat, he wasn't able to teach as much as he would like since everyone was too busy celebrating.

Yung mga panalo, dumadaan lang sa atin. Wala ka ng babalikan 'pag may ginawang mali ang mga player kase siyempre, champions na kayo” says Del Rosario, now coaching Perpetual Help in the NCAA.

In 1997 DLSU defeated their bogey team in the semis that would mark the end of UST's dominance. The Archers, though, endured another brisdesmaid finish, their fourth in a row, after getting swept by FEU in the finals.

The following year Franz Pumaren took over as the coach of La Salle and promptly led them to their own four-peat, the second title of which came at the expense of the Tigers. UST would not taste glory again until Pido Jarencio's plucky 2006 squad upset Ateneo.

One thing is for sure in the mind of Del Rosario; no one has ever approached the brilliance of Espino.

Marami na akong big man. Malayo sila lahat kay Dennis. Magaling siya sa positioning. 'Di mo magugulangan. Wala pa akong nakikitang kasing-galing niya as a big man and as a leader.” Espino, picked first overall in the PBA draft in 1995, starred for Sta. Lucia for 14 years and also played for the national team.

But Del Rosario certainly has praise for the current crop of Growling Tigers.

Mama na sila kung maglaro. Yun ang kalamangan ng UST. Bago ka maka-shoot, pahihirapan ka, pero hindi naman nananakit.”

The coach bucks conventional thinking by saying that UST actually has the advantage over DLSU in the forward lines.

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Dahil kay (Aljon) Mariano at kay (Kevin) Ferrer, lamang ang UST sa wings. Sa guards magaling talaga si (LA) Revilla at si (Almond) Vosotros. Pag na-stop sila ng UST, may chance manalo.”

Del Rosario also sees a slight edge in coaching to Jarencio, who he says has more experience. Del Rosario coached Jarencio in the 80s.

The veteran coach is still busy with the Altas and he says he isn't sure if he can catch his old team go for the title. But no doubt today's Tigers will try to summon the winning spirit of Del Rosario's four-peat crew.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.