WHEN asked what it took to win a championship last season, Tiger Sharks head coach Cyrus Alcantara had a simple answer.
“We just worked harder than other teams did,” he said.
Since the start of the school year, the Tiger Sharks have been starting and end their day at the all-familiar swimming pool. They swim from five to eight in the morning and then plunge into pool action once more from five to seven in the evening.
UST may not be the strongest team on paper, but hard work, according to Alcantara, makes up for the absence of caliber players in the team.
The three-year mentor is confident that through persistence and determination, a second championship in four years is possible.
“I think we can keep our title,” Alcantara said.
Although rookie-laden last season, the female Tiger Sharks won four golds, three silvers, and five bronzes to unseat Season 66 champion De La Salle University (DLSU).
Having no major lineup changes this year, Alcantara is optimistic that his team will again contribute to the University’s over-all championship run.
Season 67 rookie sensation Fatima Amago, who broke the women’s 50-meter backstroke record, is expected to lead UST’s title-retention bid.
Amago, a Class A athlete in the National pool, also clocked in the fastest in the 50-meter breaststroke. However, Amago has been suffering from knee and shoulder injuries. The team is hoping that she recovers in time for the UAAP swimming competition in September.
Another bright spot for UST is sophomore Apryl Herrera, who had three silvers and three bronzes last season.
With two gold finishes to boot, team captain Lovelyn Tuatis is another clear threat to the opposing teams. A top contender for the MVP last year, Tuatis reigned supreme in the 100-meter and 200-meter breastroke events.
Making their debuts this season are promising rookies Karina Amago and Josephine Pilapil.
Inching closer to the title
The Tiger Sharks surprised perennial champions DLSU and University of the Philippines (UP) with their bridesmaid finish last season.
UST was just 54 points shy from dethroning UP last year. Although this was a big improvement, toppling the Diliman splashers this season is not going to be an easy job for Alcantara’s wards.
“UP is such a strong team, but we will try (to win the championship),” he said.
Veteran tanker Louie Marquez, who holds the record in the men’s 400-meter Individual Medley for two straight years now, will make title-snatching easier for UST. The Tiger Sharks’ team captain also has four silvers and a bronze in his collection.
Season 67 Rookie of the Year Geeno Galac and last year’s biggest surprise, Januario Nazareno are also among the team’s aces, whose performances are expected to boost UST’s chances at the title.
Threats in Season 68
Aside from pool favorites UP and DLSU, Alcantara noted Ateneo de Manila University as the team with a promising lineup, having recruited some of the top players in the sport.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ipinapangako nila sa mga incoming players nila, pero magagaling talaga ‘yung mga nakuha ng Ateneo,” he said.
Former UST splasher Louise Sarmiento, last year’s MVP in the girls division, now swims with the Katipunan-based tankers.
UP, meanwhile, has a good number of players from the RP Team. Icy M. Luzano
