WITH A 21-point advantage over De La Salle University, UST continues to lead the UAAP Season 80 general championship race. UST grabbed four gold, three silver and three bronze medals for 153 points, lower than Season 79’s 161 markers.
Last year, the University only had a 12-point lead after the first half of the season, with perennial contender La Salle scoring 149 points.
La Salle wrapped up the first semester at second spot anew with 132 points, holding a slim lead over the University of the Philippines’ 130.
“Mababa ‘yung points pero ‘yung performances ng first semester events are
very good. Most of the teams ay mataas ang performance,” Institute of Physical Education
and Athletics (IPEA) athletics director Rodrigo Sambuang told the Varsitarian.
The Lady Spikers scored back-to-back titles in women’s beach volleyball after beating the Far
Eastern University (FEU) anew. The Tiger Jins reclaimed the poomsae title they lost last season at the expense of La Salle.
Last month, the Tiger Judokas continued their UAAP judo dominance after securing
another golden double.
The National University (NU) Bulldogs dethroned the Tiger Spikers and the Male Paddlers in the men’s beach volleyball and table tennis tournament for two silvers.
The Lady Paddlers almost spoiled La Salle’s five-peat bid in women’s table tennis but settled
for another runner-up finish.
After a two-year absence, the Growling Tigresses returned to the Final Four for a bronze
finish.
Season 79 taekwondo champions Tiger Jins slipped to third place while their female counterparts Lady Jins crashed to fourth from last season’s silver finish.
The Female Tigersharks improved to third this season from last year’s fourth-spot finish
while the Male Tigersharks were fourth place anew.
The Male Shuttlers punctuated their surprising Final Four appearance with a bronze finish while the Lady Shuttlers crashed to a 0-7 win-loss record, their worst showing since 1999.
The Growling Tigers suffered yet another disastrous season after slipping to a 1-13 winloss record.
“Nagpa-practice lahat ng teams sa UAAP schools, so we have to give respect din sa ginagawa nila. We are hoping and praying na makuha natin ‘yung general championship again, ‘yun naman ang aim ng athletics department natin,” Sambuang said.
Swimming champion Ateneo de Manila University came in at fourth place with 128
points.
NU is at the fifth spot with 121 points, after winning four-consecutive men’s badminton and
women’s basketball championships.
FEU, University of the East and Adamson University registered 74, 68 and 42 points for
sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively.
A very good job and hats off to our student-athletes for gaining a 21 point advantage in the General Championship over closest rival after the first semester of hostilities in the 80th season of the UAAP. This will serve as cushion for our bid to retain the GC in España, the grandest championship of all.
However, there seems to be an attempt, conscious or otherwise, to belittle or trivialize this perennial UST achievement by the UAAP management and ABSCBN Sports and Action.
Watching the UAAP 80th season video documentary, one wonders why almost all, if not all, UAAP records in all sports since its inception, were mentioned, except the 41 General Championships of UST, including a 14 year streak.
The General Championship is the ultimate championship that symbolizes overall athletic excellence in the league. 41 GCs in 80 seasons is the achievement of all achievements. It should be glorified and immortalized by the UAAP because no other school in any sporting event has achieved such heights.
It is such a pity that genuine UST achievements in the UAAP that should be emulated by all was kept in the background in that “go for great” video, a video that was supposed to showcase the best of the UAAP thru the years.
UST, specifically IPEA officials, should discuss this oversight with UAAP Management, the host school FEU, and Sports coverer ABSCBN.
It is utterly unfair.