Tag: Vol. LXXVIII

“CELLAR-dwellers,” “unpredictable,” “toothless Tigers.”

These were the words used to describe the UST Growling Tigers at the start of Season 69 of the UAAP basketball wars.

But last Oct. 2, the Tigers were christened different names: brave-hearts, never-say-die heroes, and finally, champions.

In a tough season in which they were initially dismissed as perennial non-contenders, the Tigers became champions at the expense of the league’s top-billed squad.

For THE ninth straight year, UST has shown once again IT IS lord of the UAAP jungle by grabbing its 34th overall general championship and wrapping up its Season 69 campaign on a high note.

UST won 13 UAAP titles in 26 disciplines for a whopping 331 points, relegating perennial rival University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP) and Far Eastern University (FEU) to second and third places with 254 and 218 markers, respectively.

SHE IS volleyball’s poker-faced, black-gold-white figure who hardly rides the emotional bandwagon whenever relief or dismay confronts her play.

Despite lacking the flair and swagger of many superstars in the UAAP volleyball circuit, UST Spiker and Season 69 MVP Venus Bernal has never failed to silently deliver the goods at crunchtime. Should she score or commit a mistake during play, she tells herself to “keep it cool”, and either UST wins or lose, she uses it as a motivation to win the next time around.

IN WHAT could be an anticlimactic sequel to the 2006 UAAP Finals, the UST Growling Tigers bowed to Season 69 bridesmaids Ateneo Blue Eagles, 60-67, in the ongoing Filoil-Flying V Invitational Cup last May 6 at the San Juan arena.

With slotmen Carmelo Afuang, Carlos Fenequito and Darryl Basa under foul trouble, UST, composed of selected players from Team A and Team B, relinquished a five-point lead to the Eagles that fueled a decisive 7-0 Ateneo run for a 50-53 Tiger deficit with 5:54 left.

THE FIVE-TIME UAAP Cheerdance champ Salinggawi Dance Troupe is preparing a fusion of modern folk and jazz dances for the opening ceremonies of UAAP Season 70 hosted by UST this July.

Choreographed by Ryan Silva and Rene Hofileña, Salinggawi’s long-time choreographers, the three-part exhibition will run roughly nine minutes. The first part will consist of a variety of dances such as modern jazz, cheerdance, and hip-hop while the succeeding two parts will utilize barrio themes accompanied by folk dance music in an upbeat tempo.

THEY ARE definitely on a league of their own.

More than spewing fire on the UAAP mat, the UST Lady Jins kicked their way to an impressive finish in the 2007 Petron National All-Womens’ Taekwondo Championship last May 20 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Unfazed amidst strong opposition from members of the RP juniors team and UAAP rival schools, the “four-peat” champion Lady Jins bagged five golds, one silver, and five bronzes to reaffirm their billing as tournament heavyweights in the day-long event.

REVENGE is sweet for the UST Lady Spikers as they whipped bitter rivals De La Salle University Lady Archers in a booming 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16 win in the 4th Shakey’s V-League tournament last May 22 at the Arena in San Juan.

Yearning for a rematch for the last two years after their V-League finals loss back in July 2005, coach Augusto Santamaria’s wards came out roaring in every possession and showed no sign of being intimidated, even against La Salle’s towering guest player, Sanorseeang Areerat, a Thailand national player.

COMING from back-to-back wins, the UST Tiger Cubs devoured Southville International School, 111-39, to stay undefeated in the Nike Summer League last May 19 at the Far Eastern University (FEU) gym.

It was an all-UST show in the entire game as both the Tiger Cubs’ offense and defense were in sync for a 17-3 opening salvo. Since then, UST did not bother to look back.

“Their (Tiger Cubs) advantage was speed, so we were able to dictate the tempo and shut our opponents out,” coach Allan Ascue told the Varsitarian.

THE LEARNING continues for the UST Growling Tigers.

Sharpening claws on foreign turf for the first time, the Tigers banked on their vaunted never-say-die attitude once more to register a modest bridesmaid finish in the Penang Unity Cup-Southeast Asian Basketball Invitational tournament in Malaysia.

WITH their majestic UAAP billing on the line, the UST Judokas simply refused to go home empty-handed as they fought tooth-and-nail in the Philippine National Judo Championship last April 29 and 30 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.