think rainbows

Watching your team’s games live is one thing. Cheering for them is another.

I’ve always wondered how it would feel if I were a part of the basketball, or volleyball team for our school and I would see that only a number of people are watching our games. And then for the other team, they’ve almost occupied their whole side. As if some members of our crowd went to the other side of the fence and left a big hole on the other side.

I’ve read in an article that most of what is done in basketball is mental, so this probably adds up to it. The energy of the crowd could also contribute to the energy of the players. They know that they are playing for these people who came out and are cheering for them, and they wouldn’t want to disappoint them. In return, what do they get? Or do they even get something in return? (Not that I think they are expecting anything in return of course.)

School’s boosters have always tried their best to uplift the spirits of the crowd every game. Even if their team is 10 points behind, it’s their job to shout out loud and be proud for the team, and make the crowd feel that. Like how the UST Yellow Jackets boost the morale of the crowd in every UST game. They have untiringly cheered for the Tigers, even if the crowd is not always responding to their pleas of cheering for the team. They have always aimed to give liveliness to the crowd, even if they themselves are already tired and don’t have that much vigor anymore. They just simply cannot give up because if they do, who knows, the other crowd might just eat up their crowd; or worse, the team.

This is one of the reasons why I cheer my heart out every time I watch a live UST game. It’s the least thing that I could do for the team aside from being there to watch them live, to help uplift their spirits by cheering for them; to help boost their confidence by saying ‘Go Tigers!’ At least if they hear our cheers together with the Yellow Jackets, they would know that we still believe in what they can do; that we’re right behind them and that they can still actually do something. Sometimes our efforts pay off with a win, sometimes it does not. Nevertheless, we should never lose the heart in cheering for them, as much as they never lose the heart in playing for the school.

UST is fighting for their survival in the final four race, and still has 3 more playing dates against Lasalle, Ateneo, and NU respectively. It is a tough, tough road to victory, but we know that the Tigers never give up. And win or lose, we should never give up supporting them as well. The growls of the Thomasian faithful shall be heard once again over at the Araneta Coliseum. Cheer for more UST! Tigers roar! :)