UST REGAINED its rightful spot in the UAAP, winning a record 40th general championship.
The Tigers collected a total of five championships and finished with 283 points, just three points ahead of two-time champion De La Salle University, which posted 280 markers. The University of the Philippines finished third with 236 points.
UST was poised to regain the overall title after the first semester events, leading La Salle, 152-147. But the Tigers lost ground after the football team and women’s squads volleyball and chess faltered.
In the meantime, the Green Archers were threatening to overtake UST with at least three La Salle teams reaching the finals. UST's athletic moderator Rodrigo Sambuang of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) admitted that he and the rest of IPEA administration nearly lost all hope of winning the overall title.
After 15 events, La Salle eventually took a 274-273 lead over UST. But thanks to the Tiger Softbelles' epic climb from sixth to third place, UST secured the overall title.
But the championship trophy was not formally awarded to UST in the UAAP Season 77 closing ceremony last April 11 due to a score clarification by La Salle. UAAP Season 77 secretary-general Rodrigo Roque said a letter containing the tabulation of the final scores had been sent to IPEA Director Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P. last April 17, confirming UST’s victory.
Tough road back
Some coaches and athletes attributed UST's struggle to regain the overall title to the school's inability to get more quality athletes.
“I think the problem is lack of [quality] players since there are schools that offer better benefits, unlike in UST which prioritizes academics,” told baseball team captain Arvin Plaza. “What other schools do is offer way better than what UST does.”
But Sambuang reiterated that UST maintains the practice of amateurism in the league and will only offer resources within the University’s capacity.
“Kung ano lang ‘yung matira sa atin, ‘yun lang ang atin. We are honest with the athletes to the limited benefits that UST can give,” Sambuang said.
Men's football coach Marjo Allado admitted a UST strategy.
“Kung hindi kami pumasok sa championship, we made sure na both men’s and women’s team ng La Salle ay nasa likod namin,” he said.
For Season 77, the Growling Tigers won a total of five gold, five silver and seven bronze medals.
UST lorded it over in men’s and women’s judo, men’s taekwondo, women’s beach volleyball and women’s track and field while securing silver in tennis, fencing and men’s beach volleyball.
Settling for third were men’s volleyball, swimming, chess, tennis, track and field and women’s taekwondo, softball and poomsae.
Chasing back-to-back
With National University (NU) targeting its first ever general championship in Season 78 after winning a season-high six gold medals, UST coaches are not threatened of the Bulldogs and still look at La Salle as the school to beat.
“Given ‘yun kasi bumibili sila [NU] ng players pero hindi naman lahat kaya nilang bilhin. It takes three to five years pa bago nila tayo madikitan sa general championship. Ngayon, baka sa La Salle pa lang mahirapan na sila,” badminton coach Noli Cajefe said.
According to Sambuang, the UST administration is expecting for a bounce back season from the women’s volleyball team with the installation of a new head coach, Emilio Reyes Jr., describing the team as the “breath and water” of the University.
UST still holds the record of having the most number of general championship titles with 40 overall crowns, winning 25 in the last 28 years, followed by Far Eastern University with 16.
