2017 UST Growling Tigers men's basketball team

The Growling Tigers' three starting seniors, Louie Vigil, Jon Sheriff and Kent Lao have already graduated, while Mario Bonleon and Renzo Subido have taken time off from college basketball to participate in the PBA D-League.

UST has eight new players in their roster, composed of four rookies[7] and four transferees.[8]

Former UST Tiger Cubs' team captain Jorem Soriano, who last played in the UAAP Season 75 Juniors basketball tournament, was expected to join the Growling Tigers' roster the following year, but personal and family matters kept him away from basketball. He returned to the team last year and was included in the Tigers' Team B training pool.[9]

After Season 79's last place finish in the standings, sports analysts have again downplayed UST's chances of making it to the final four.[10]

Subtractions

Pos.	#	POB	Player	Height	Year	High school	Notes
PG	6		Sheak Jamil J. Sheriff, Jr.	5' 9"	5th	Loyola Catholic Secondary School	Graduated
PF	7		Jason M. Strait	6' 4"	2nd	Arellano University High School	Transferred to the University of the East
PG	10		Henri Lorenzo P. Subido	5' 9"	4th	De La Salle Santiago Zobel School	On leave
SG	14		Mario Emmanuel T. Bonleon, Jr.	6' 3"	3rd	La Salle Greenhills	On leave
C	17		William Kwabena Afoakwah	6' 6"	2nd	Kumasi	Transferred to Southwestern Christian University
SG	18		Louie Philippe V. Vigil	6' 3"	5th	José Rizal University	Graduated
SF	19		Kent Jefferson S. Lao	6' 4"	5th	Saint Stephen's High School	Graduated
C	20		Tsutomu M. Tateishi	6' 9"	2nd	Ateneo de Davao University	Out due to injury

Additions

Pos.	#	POB	Player	Height	Year	High school	Notes
C	0		Steve Cedrick P. Akomo	6' 9"	4th	Lycée bilingue de Fondonera	Transferred from the University of the Visayas
PG	7		John Jordan M. Sta. Ana	6' 0"	2nd	Nazareth School of National University	Transferred from the University of the East
SG	10		Martin Arthur I. Romero	6' 0"	1st	De La Salle Santiago Zobel School	Rookie
PG	14		Ebenezer Godwin Kwawukumey	5' 7"	1st	Vaughan Secondary School	Rookie
SF	17		Jose Carlos P. Escalambre	6' 2"	3rd	San Sebastian College-Recoletos	Transferred from Adamson University
SF	18		Leon Alfonzo B. Lorenzana	6' 4"	1st	University of Santo Tomas	Rookie
PF	19		Christian Laurent G. Garcia	6' 4"	3rd	Sta. Clara International Academy	Transferred from Adamson University
PF	20		Vaughn Jorem E. Soriano	6' 4"	1st	University of Santo Tomas	From Team B

Boy Sablan went into his second year as the head coach of the Growling Tigers after signing a one-year contract extension in June 2017.

Former PBA players Gerry Esplana and Bobby Jose replaced Patrick Fran and Rabbi Tomacruz as assistant coaches going into Season 80.[11]

Esplana, who was a former FEU Tamaraw, was the head coach of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals from 2011 until 2014, while the former Glowing Goldie Bobby Jose is an aspiring public servant in his hometown of Bocaue, Bulacan. Both of them have children who also play basketball for the varsity teams of their respective schools.

Steve Akomo became the subject of an eligibility probe in September 2017. In the days leading to the opening of the Season 80 men's basketball tournament, the UAAP board had insisted that Akomo needed two years for his transfer residency. He had transferred from the University of Visayas and did his residency last season.[12]

They had cited the case of Ben Mbala, a Cameroonian who underwent two years of residency when he transferred to De La Salle from Southwestern University in 2013.[13] Sablan countered that former Growling Tiger and fellow Cameroonian Karim Abdul only did one year of residency before he was allowed to play for the team in 2011.

In spite of the Republic Act 10676, or the Student-Athletes Protection Act of 2015,[14] a law that put an end to the Jerie Pingoy Rule (the 2013 UAAP rule which required two years of residency for all incoming collegiate athletes who wished to transfer from another UAAP member university),[15] there appears to be another existing UAAP rule specifically made for foreign student-athletes. If the foreign student has attended high school in the Philippines for at least one school year, then he only has to do one year of residency. If he studied for two years, he could play already in college. Otherwise, the two-year residency requirement remains.[16]

The UAAP Board of Managing Directors then recommended Akomo, together with UP Fighting Maroon and fellow foreign student-athlete Ibrahim Ouattara to be ruled ineligible for the coming men's basketball tournament.[17]

On September 7, 2017, the UAAP Board of Trustees, the official policy-making body made up of the presidents of all-member schools, had a meeting in Far Eastern University and later arrived at a decision on the foreign student-athletes' eligibility case. They have decided against the Board of Managing Directors' recommendation regarding the two-year residency for foreign student-athletes "in the interest of justice and fairness," thereby declaring Akomo and Ouattara eligible to play in the coming UAAP season with finality.[18]

The Growling Tigers on numerous occasions had chances to steal wins from their higher-ranked opponents, but either turnovers, poor free throws, or simply, bad breaks almost always did them in.

Against the UP Fighting Maroons in the first round, UST lost by a single point, on a game-winning three point shot by Paul Desiderio during the last 5 seconds of the game. This was when the iconic "Atin 'to, papasok ito" quote was first mentioned by the Fighting Maroons' captain.[19]

They lost again to UP in the second round, with a similar disappointing outcome. UST came to within 2 points with 9 seconds left in the game, but team captain Marvin Lee missed a last-second heave, causing the team to lose for the eighth straight time.[20]

Against the Adamson Falcons in the second round, the Tigers came to within 2 with 14 seconds left in the game, but fouls got the better of them. Fil-American guard Jerrick Ahanmisi converted his free throws for the final score, 70-75.[21]

In their only win of the season against UE on their last scheduled game, the Tigers had to rely on perfect free throw shooting by rookie point guard Oli de Guzman to bail them to the final score, 88-85.[22]

In a game against Adamson in the first round of eliminations, UST made 41 turnovers, the most by any team in a single game since 2003, when record-keeping of UAAP statistics first became official.[23]

Elimination games were played in a double round-robin format. All games were aired on ABS-CBN Sports and Action.

Times listed above are in UTC+08:00

Following the infamous 1-13 win-loss record of Season 80, UST head coach Boy Sablan tendered his resignation on November 20, 2017.[24] UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy made the announcement of the entire coaching staff's end of tenure on November 30, but they will continue receiving compensations until May of the following year due to existing live contracts.[25]

Tigresses assistant coach Arsenio Dysangco Jr. was tasked to facilitate team practices while management was finalizing the process for determining the Growling Tigers' next head coach.[26]

Former head coach Pido Jarencio once again expressed interest in coming back to lead the team,[27] but there was someone else who was being considered for the position.[28]

On January 5, 2018, Aldin Ayo, resigned head coach of the De La Salle Green Archers, announced his transfer to the University of Santo Tomas where he will coach the men's basketball team for the next six years.[29] Ayo's appointment was made formal by Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) director Fr. Jannel Abogado on January 11.