Fan who proposed at UST game wanted to do 'something unique'

The UST Growling Tigers fan who proposed to his longtime girlfriend during last Saturday’s epic UST-FEU double-overtime game said he wanted his proposal to be special and unique.

And since he’s a diehard UAAP fan, it seemed only natural that the something special and unique would involve his beloved UST Tigers.

"Before Season 76 started, I already had plans of proposing to her during a UAAP game,” said Whamos Del Rosario in an e-mail to Yahoo Philippines Sports.  “I think April pa lang naiisip ko na iyon.  I wanted my wedding proposal to be something unique and really special.  I want to do it in our ‘happy place’, that is, the UAAP.”

Del Rosario popped the question to his girlfriend, Arcie Abin, during the break between the third and fourth periods of the game, which was fittingly won by UST in double overtime, 79-78. He said he chose this time of the game because it was almost always noisy and exciting.

“I noticed during UST games, the Yellow Jackets try to pump-up the crowd during this period,” he explained. “ Lamang man or hindi, gumagawa ang YJ ng paraan to fire up the crowd.  Nakakatuwa nga kasi the third quarter of the UST-FEU game was the momentum-shifting quarter for the Tigers.”

And luckily for him, the Tigers were making a run heading into the fourth period.

“That’s what I needed, yung ganado mga UST fans entering the fourth quarter.  Imagine kung lamang ang FEU ng 20 points going to the fourth period. Medyo mahihirapan ata akong gawin yung proposal.”

The couple has known each other since 2002, having met at their school org, Pax Romana. “She was a freshie then while I was in my junior year,” said Whamos. “ We are both from UST and we both took up Accountancy.”

Aside from their common course, the other thing they shared in common was their passion for their school’s men’s basketball team. Whamos, who calls himself a “super big and passionate fan” of the Tigers, claims he has missed perhaps only two or three UST games since 2006.

“College pa lang ako addicted na ako with the pounding of the drums during the games,” he said. “Kung magcheer kami during the games parang walang bukas.  There are times pa nga before na sobrang apektado kami pag talo UST.  Tipong pag Saturday yung game tapos talo UST and then the next game would be next Saturday pa, ganito na kami: ‘Next Saturday pa yung game natin, next week pa tayo makakabawi! Isang linggo nating dadalhin ito.’”

His devotion to UST helped strengthen his bond with Arcie, and also helped him make new friends, other UST fans who shared his passion.

“Minsan kahit may problema kami sa relationship, nakakalimutan namin yun pag nanunuod ng UAAP,” he said. “We have a group of friends na libangan talaga naming magcheer for the UST Tigers in the UAAP, parang yung group of friends ni Jimmy Fallon sa The Perfect Catch that loves to watch the Red Sox. Most of us nagkakila-kilala lang while watching the games.  Dati, nagkikita-kita lang kami during UAAP season but afterwards, nag cross na yung friendships naming outside the UAAP.  Honestly, my favorite time of the year is July to October, kasi UAAP season yun.  I always look forward to meet my UAAP family."

RELATED: Couple gets engaged while UST survives FEU in double OT

And it was this extended UAAP family that helped him lay the groundwork for his planned proposal. But first, Whamos had to have a ring made, and he flew all the way to Hong Kong during the UAAP break for the FIBA Asia Championship in early August.

“I know she dreams of having a Tiffany engagement ring,” he said. “Mas mura kasi kapag doon bumili.”

“Our UAAP family knew the plan,” he continued. “Lahat sila may role during the proposal.  May gumawa ng posters, may tagahawak ng posters, may nag secure ng tickets, may nag document nung event.  Most of our closest friends outside the UAAP knew of the plan as well.  My family knew it too.  Top secret lang talaga kay Arcie and sa family nya yung proposal.  I wanted a big surprise kasi talaga.”

But even though he had this carefully laid plan, Whamos admitted he was nervous as the third period drew to a close. “Especially the last two minutes of the quarter,” he said. “ Kinakabahan na talaga ako noon.  But honestly, hindi ko naisip na she’ll say NO but I was a bit worried na sa sobrang pagkabigla and overwhelmed feeling e maging speechless sya.”

As it turned out, he had nothing to worry about. Arcie’s reaction?

“She said, ‘Hayup ka! Asan ako ngayon? Sino kayo?’”

And to formally launch their engagement, the Tigers gave them a game for the ages, hitting two big triples to twice send the game into an extension period before finally prevailing in double overtime.

For Whamos and Arcie, it was the perfect early wedding gift.