UST surrenders general championship to La Salle

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UST FELL short of its 41st UAAP general championship as Thomasian athletes failed to sustain their momentum in the league’s 78th season.

After a slim two-point lead against De La Salle University at the end of the first semester, UST once again saw the title slip away from its hands, three times in the last four years, as the Green Archers turned the tables and finished the season with 282 points, ahead of UST’s 280 points.

La Salle’s second half surge was backed by gold-medal finishes in women’s volleyball, women’s chess and men’s baseball.

UST’s lone gold in the second semester meanwhile came from the Lady Tracksters.

Athletic director Rod Sambuang admitted there was a decline in the level of play of UST athletes especially in the second half of the season and that could be attributed to varying factors.

The UST Golden Booters were undefeated midway through the season before an array of losses deterred the success of the squad. As the last remaining hope for UST’s 41st overall crown, the Booters suffered a manhandling in the Final Four from the University of the Philippines which eventually won the title.

“Sa men’s football nagka-yellow card na ‘yung mga seniors kaya hindi sila nagamit masyado. Sa women’s [football] naman, hindi pa ganoon katibay ‘yung team.” Sambuang told the Varsitarian.

Ateneo de Manila University, which finished fourth last season, improved to a third place this year.

With the recruitment wars heating up, Sambuang said the University would stick to its usual offers to aspiring student-athletes.

“School spirit at quality education lang talaga ang panglaban natin,” Sambuang said.

“Pagdating sa pera, wala tayong maibibigay sa kanila. Pero ‘yung mga binibigay naman natin hindi cash basis like dorm and food allowance kapag nag-compute ka, mas malaki pa ‘yung binibigay natin.”

Sambuang declined to comment on the new UAAP residency law filed by Senator Pia Cayetano banning schools from imposing residency on athletes who wish to transfer to a different institution.

The University has been a target of athlete piracy in the past with notable names such as UAAP Athlete of the Year Alyssa Valdez, Dindin Santiago and Kyle Neypes among the lot suiting up for different colleges.

Former junior Lady Tigershark Mikee Bartolome’s case even went as far as the Supreme Court issuing a Temporary Restraint Order for her to play for University of the Philippines.

UST will try to regain the general championship as they prepare to host the 79th season of the UAAP.

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