UST’s Relentless Gelo Crisostomo Finds His Shot and His Moment

The UST Growling Tigers are roaring again in UAAP Season 88, and one of the loudest echoes in that resurgence comes from their hardworking forward, Angelo “Gelo” Crisostomo. Once a quiet contributor known more for hustle than highlight plays, Crisostomo has turned heads this season with his improved shooting and expanded role on both ends of the floor.

Finding His Form

“Lagi naman namin training yun. And then, nag True Focus din naman kami. So, more on shooting, yun,” Crisostomo said when asked about the key behind his better scoring this year.

That simplicity — constant training and focus — reflects the heart of UST’s return to UAAP prominence. Under a new, free-flowing system that emphasizes trust, ball movement, and confidence in every shot, Gelo has found consistency from beyond the arc and inside the paint.

Through UST’s first few games, he’s averaged nearly nine points and seven rebounds per contest while shooting 38% from beyond the arc — a significant leap from his earlier seasons.

RELATED: Read more about UST’s return to the UAAP elite here.

From “Tsamba” to Trust

Crisostomo remains humble about his performance, joking that most of his baskets are just lucky breaks.

“Tsamba lang naman lahat yun eh. Iniisip ko lang, ay kailangan ko lang talagang pagbutihin sa mga laro. Ang mindset ko lang is mapakita ko lang yung laro ko sa team and then makatulong ako sa team.”

Luck, though, doesn’t explain his clutch play. In UST’s triple-overtime victory against Ateneo, Crisostomo delivered 18 points and 17 rebounds, including 9 crucial markers in extra periods — the kind of effort that earned him a UAAP Player of the Week nod and the respect of his peers.

In a close matchup against FEU, his two triples from the wing served as daggers against the Charging Tamaraws. That his teammates trusted him to take – and make – the biggest shots of the game echo the trust the Growling Tigers have in one another.

This isn’t random. His “tsamba” mindset is more about humility — a reflection of a player who knows that hard work sets up every “lucky” shot.

Role Player Turned Game Changer

“Siguro, role ko lang naman sa team ay kumuha ng mga offensive possession. And then, bonus na lang yung points ko sa depensa rin.”

True to his word, Crisostomo has carved a niche as one of UST’s best rebounders and energy guys. But this season, those “bonus” points have been anything but accidental. His improved outside shot has added spacing to UST’s offense, forcing defenders to step out and opening lanes for teammates like Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero.

That versatility has turned him from a rotational player into one of Coach Pido Jarencio’s most reliable two-way forwards.

“Gelo has the green light to shoot,” UST assistant coach Juno Sauler recently said on a podcast.

The Mindset That Fuels the Tigers

Behind every made shot and defensive stop, Crisostomo credits the environment inside the team — a culture built on motivation and accountability.

“Actually, ang ginagawa naman ng team namin especially mga players and then yung mga coaches is pag pangit yung laro nung kasama namin ayun nga, tinutulungan namin siya na makabawi, ganun. Minomotivate lang namin sila na ‘bakit di mo tinira yun? Dapat tira mo na lang yun. Ma-miss man or ano, what if kung pumasok ganun.’”

That “what if it goes in?” mindset — simple yet fearless — has come to define the Growling Tigers’ charge in 2025. It’s the same mentality that’s powered to a 5-2 first round and helped them reclaim relevance in the UAAP title picture.

Why Gelo’s Rise Matters

Crisostomo’s climb mirrors UST’s own comeback story. The team that once languished near the bottom of the league is now playing with belief and identity. And at the center of that transformation is a player who never stopped putting in the work — even when the spotlight wasn’t his.

He doesn’t talk much about personal goals. No bold predictions, no flashy sound bites. Just effort, focus, and the quiet satisfaction of helping UST win again.

Because for Gelo Crisostomo, every “tsamba” basket is really a product of hundreds of unseen hours in training — and a reminder that luck tends to favor those who keep shooting.

Read more about Chin’s other stories here.