UST’S COLLEGIATE sports supremacy has been reaffirmed as the mighty Tigers registered sensational performances all year long to devour the opposition of all sorts and empower the University to its ninth straight UAAP overall crown.
Fabled UAAP Mythical Five member Jervy Cruz, UAAP Finals MVP Jojo Duncil, UAAP Sixth Man Dylan Ababou, and UAAP Coach of the Year Pido Jarencio highlighted UST athletes’ conquest of UAAP titles after leading the Tigers to a Cinderella finish to bring the men’s basketball diadem back to España after 10 years.
In the women’s division, rookies Marichu Bacaro and Remia Buenacosa played like veterans to join the Mythical Team and hand the Tigresses’ first UAAP crown in 11 years.
In lawn tennis, Season 69 co-Rookies of the Year (ROY) Ryan Repunte and James Cañete, Season 69 MVPs Wlbur Orillano and Arra Micayabas scored unstoppable smashes to win the UAAP title via an emphatic 14-0 sweep.
It was another resounding victory in taekwondo as Season 69 MVPs Billy Coral and Ma. Rainee Rose Arca propelled UST to a taekwondo dynasty with sterling performances in all weight divisions for UST’s fifth and fourth straight UAAP titles, respectively.
Kicking their way to glory in men’s football are Season 69 MVP and Best Midfielder Ricardo Becite, ROY Mark David Basa, and Best Goalkeeper Johnson Lee, who weathered bulky rivals to enable UST to capture its first UAAP Men’s Football championship in six years.
Lady Booters’ Louella Arnamio won the ROY honors to add to her team’s bridesmaid finish. Moreover, UST Football coaches Marjo Allado and Jade Bejemino were named Coach of the Year.
In women’s volleyball, Season 69 MVP Venus Bernal punctuated every adversary’s defense with cross-court hits to help the UST Lady Spikers stage a booming UAAP title finish, which also took 10 years to realize. UST sophomore Denise Tan also enlisted a marked improvement and won the Best Setter award. On the distaff side, UST Tiger Spikers’ Marlon Macabulos showed promise as he seized the ROY plum and his team won third place.
Golden Sox team captain Jon-jon Robles survived a first-round injury and made a striking comeback to win the MVP award and pilot his team for its third UAAP title in three years. Robles also won the Best Pitcher award for striking out the most batters, while teammate Al-Denn Lozada was cited for Most Stolen Bases.
In judo, Season 69 MVP Stephen Gerena typified bravery at all costs to lead the Tiger Judokas’ rally in reclaiming the UAAP crown.
UST veteran Louie Marquez again shone for the Male Tigersharks, winning two golds, two silvers, and two bronzes that earned him the MVP title to go with the team’s runner-up finish.
It was another year of table-smashing at its finest for Season 69 MVP Jaymee Yanga, who topped the singles action all the way after a one-year hiatus.
Among the UST young bloods who proved their worth were Fencing’s ROY Harris Orendain and Badminton’s ROY Rochanie Decatoria.
Beyond borders
The Thomasian sports dominance also went beyond the portals of the University this year. Leading the Tiger pack is Thomasian World Bowling Champion Biboy Rivera, who won the Master Gold medal in the World Bowling Championships in Busan last September despite nursing a left-knee patella injury.
Also joining the elite roster of international achievers is UST jin and 2004 Athens Olympian Tshomlee Go, who pocketed the silver in the recently concluded 15th Asian Games in Busan, while bemedalled Female Tigershark Lianne Marquez also gave a good fight against Asia’s finest as she bagged two silvers and two bronzes in the 13th Asean University Games.
Earlier, the UST Rowing Team started the year with a smooth-sailing campaign after copping bronze medal in the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival held in Malaysia.
In local soil, the UST Tracksters breezed past their opponents to claim the University Games title last October.
The Softbelles, the UST Mountaineering Club, Tigresses, and the Lady Jins also had pre-season championships to their name after prevailing in the National Open Softball Championship, Sierra Karera race (elite category), Women’s Basketball League, and 2006 All-Womens Taekwondo Championship, respectively.
