UST Growling Tigers

Mascot and colors

The men's varsity team of the University of Santo Tomas used to be called the "Glowing Goldies". The change to "Growling Tigers" came after the embarrassment suffered by the UST crowd who were present during the opening ceremonies of Season 54 (1991–92). Part of the program was the parade of school mascots. Host University of the Philippines which was the producer of the program was at a loss on how to represent the Glowing Goldies concretely. Since UST is a Dominican institute, the host decided to represent the school with an old Dominican friar holding a basketball, with sweatbands on the arms as well as band-aids all over its body and limbs. This personification drew a lot of laughter from the crowd. Due to this embarrassment, a search for a new mascot was held. Athletic Director Felicitas Francisco suggested the tiger as the new mascot due to its gold and white colors.

When it was UST's turn to be host in Season 55 (1992–93), the new growling tiger mascot debuted in the opening ceremonies. Since then, Mrs. Francisco always donned her tiger-striped coat when she attends UST playoff games. The High School boys' team then called the "Golden Nuggets" likewise changed its name to "Tiger Cubs".

It should be noted that Manila Central University used the tiger mascot (with purple and gold colors) in the UAAP when it joined in 1952. It withdrew from the UAAP in 1962 and is currently inactive in intercollegiate athletics.

The gold and white colors of the flag of the Vatican City were adopted by University of Santo Tomas as its school colors because of its Pontifical status.

Varsity teams

The University of Santo Tomas is one of 4 schools that participate in all of the fifteen sporting events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The names of the school's collegiate varsity teams participating in these fifteen sports are shown in the table below.

Basketball

UST with 40 championships has the most number of basketball titles in the UAAP. The men's basketball team is tied with the UE Red Warriors for the number of championships won as both schools have 18 titles. The Growling Tigers won one NCAA championship in 1930.

The Tiger Cubs and the Tigresses also have successful basketball programs. The former met the Ateneo Blue Eaglets 11 times since 1986 in the Finals. The Tigresses have won the most number of women's championships at 11, with the latest coming in 2006 (Season 69), at the expense of the FEU Lady Tamaraws.

In season 57 (1994), the men's, women's and juniors' teams won the UAAP basketball championship in their respective division. This was the only time that a triple-championship feat has happened in UAAP history. In Seasons 58 (1995) and 69 (2006), UST won double championships. Both the men's and women's teams captured the basketball championships in their respective division.

Championships

Includes defeated championship opponents.

Volleyball

In UAAP Volleyball, the Tiger Spikers have 19 championships. The Tigresses have 15 UAAP Volleyball crowns. The Lady Tiger Cubs has 6 UAAP Junior Volleyball titles. Both the Tiger Spikers and Lady Tiger Cubs recently achieved a three-peat championship winning the 70th, 71st, and 72nd UAAP Seasons. The Tigresses also won the championship in Season 72. The Tiger Cubs has yet to win their first UAAP crown.

The UST Tiger Spikers Men's Volleyball Team

(2nd Spikers' Turf Collegiate Conference)

Beach volleyball

UAAP Season 78 (S.Y. 2015-16) rosters

Men's

Women's

Head coach: Emil Lontoc

The UST Golden Booters Football Team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Records by season

Men's rankings since 1988:

Baseball

The UST Golden Sox is one of the top baseball teams in the UAAP. They have won two (2005 and 2007) of their last four titles in straight finals appearances.

Cheerdance

The official Pep Squad and Drumline, the UST Yellow Jackets, and the official dance troupe, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe have won the UAAP Cheerdance Competition a league-leading eight times and holds the record for the longest championship run for five consecutive years (2002 to 2006). Their closest rival is the UP Pep Squad, which has been a consistent runner-up until 2007 when they snatched the title by a very thin margin from the Salinggawi Dance Troupe, which finished second.

Judo

The UST Lady Judokas team, headed by Head Coach Gerald Arce is the defending champion of the UAAP Women's Judo competition. The Lady Judokas won five titles for the past 6 seasons, having first won in Seasons 73, 74, and 75. After they suffered a 4th-place finish during Season 76, they bounce-back and became the back-to-back champions of the UAAP from Seasons 77 and 78.