DÉJÀ VU! For the past two years, the University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University seemed to be following the same trend in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) general championship race — the Green Archers sprint ahead of the pack in the first half of the season, only to be overtaken by UST in the end.
And cliché as it may sound, history repeated itself for the Taft-based University as it failed to learn from its past mistakes and succumbed once more to the ferocious Tigers’ balanced athletic attack toward the second semester.
The initial half of the season saw UST trailing by 10 points behind De La Salle’s scintillating 105 first-semester storm.
Four months later, however, with five more championships added to its name, UST sidetracked La Salle anew to claim its fourth straight and 29th over-all UAAP general championship.
And despite the various controversies that UST got involved in, its 40-point lead over the second-running Green Archers was simply overwhelming.
Continued tradition of excellence
For Fr. Ermito De Sagon, O.P., Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) Director, UST’s unparalleled feat in the UAAP is a testament to its continued excellence in sports.
He added that UST’s secret is its athletes. De Sagon praised the players’ dedication and willingness to give it their all for the sake of the University.
“Our athletes in the different sporting events are always trying to push themselves to the limit,” De Sagon said.
The former UST Pay High School director also lauded all the coaches who, according to him, have remained loyal and committed to the training program despite their low honorarium.
Recruitment-wise, De Sagon said that UST does not always acquire high-caliber athletes. In fact, he said that UST only recruits players based on their interest to play the game and their willingness to study in the University.
“We don’t go by the standards of recruiting quality athletes. We get only those who are dedicated, then train them,” De Sagon said.
Slow start
UST’s slow start and powerful finish is becoming a Tiger trademark. During the course of the first four months this season, the España-based University trekked a relatively rocky road. Out of 10 events, UST was only able to bag two championships — women’s table tennis and women’s swimming. La Salle, on the other hand, was on a high after capturing five titles — men’s senior basketball, women’s senior basketball, men’s volleyball, men’s chess, and men’s swimming.
The UST Men’s and Women’s Table Tennis teams were the first to be involved in controversies this season.
After two rounds of elimination, both the UST Paddlers and Lady Paddlers were tied with the UP Men’s and Women’s Table Tennis teams in first place with 12-2, win-loss records.
To settle the matter, UP’s Dean Gilda Uy of the College of Human Kinetics and UST’s IPEA Director Fr. Ermito De Sagon, O.P. agreed to impose international table tennis policies to remedy the problem. According to international rules, upon a deadlock after regulation, the championship will be given to the team with a higher quotient.
UST received the women’s title since the Lady Paddlers’ lead over UP was too large while the Maroon Paddlers took home the men’s title despite their slim lead in points over the Tiger Paddlers.
On the other hand, the Lady Tankers brought home trophy number two for UST in historic fashion after outclassing the fancied Archer and Maroon lady teams. The Lady Tankers’ fourth consecutive title tied University of the East’s previous feat from 1960-1964.
In the chess tournament, both the Male and Female Woodpushers dramatically improved their previous performance as they snatched first runner-up honors, despite playing under a new coaching staff.
Likewise, the Lady Spikers finished a notch higher this year behind sterling performances from the triumvirate of veterans Kimberly Racaza, Joyce Pano, and rookie sensation Anna Fulo.
The UST Spikers, on the other hand, failed to repeat as champions this year after losing a tightly contested five-set encounter against the De La Salle Spikers.
UST, which was composed mostly of rookies and sophomores, sorely missed the leadership of last year’s Most Valuable Player, Clarence Esteban.
The UST Growling Tigers, meanwhile, were reduced to mere mortals this season as they failed to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 1994.
Missing the services of last year’s leading scorer Cyrus Baguio, hardworking Melchor Latoreno and beanpole Gilbert Lao, the Tigers had a nightmare of a season, failing to find cohesiveness and chemistry all season long.
With Niño Gelig and Alwin Espiritu putting up so-so performances for the Tigers, UST finished a miserable sixth place.
Power finishes
Coming to the rescue of UST once again were the second-semester events. Though less heralded because of the lack of media mileage and exposure, these events have always been a dependable boost to the Tigers’ over-all championship climb to the top.
As the second half of the season ushered in, UST immediately made its presence felt with the Lady Tracksters romping off with their fourth straight UAAP Athletics diadem.
Even without national team mainstay Narcisa Atienza, the Lady Tracksters still proved to be too much for the opposition as fiery performances from veterans Melanie Gida and Leslie Cercado carried UST through.
Double victories in lawn tennis, meanwhile, further pushed UST up the overall standings.
The UST Tennisters, who lost veteran Karl Santamaria in the middle of the tournament, finally broke their jinx and turned back the defending champion, Ateneo de Manila University in three straight sets to win the championship.
Behind Rookie of the Year Pius Ocampo and MVP Gabby Remigio, the Tiger Tennisters wrought havoc at the Valle Verde tennis courts to end UST’s long championship drought in lawn tennis.
On the distaff side, the UST Lady Tennisters earned their place in the UAAP history books after winning the first ever UAAP women’s lawn tennis tournament.
Julie Ann Cadiente and MVP Charisse Godoy led the onslaught for the Lady Tennisters who secured the championship by sweeping the tournament.
The Tiger Judokas and Lady Jins, meanwhile, continued their own championship streaks in UAAP contact sports.
With the score tied in the championship round, Judoka Pacoy Añag secured the championship for UST after emerging victorious against De La Salle Univesity’s Jeff Lim in the title-clinching heavyweight event.
The Lady Jins, likewise, retained their titles as the toughest-kicking women in the UAAP via a sweep.
With SEA Games silver medallist Kalindi Tamayo and US Taekwondo Open gold medallist Daleen Cordero, the UST Lady Jins used their lightning-quick moves to breeze through the competition.
The UST Jins, on the other hand, lost a 4-3 heartbreaker against the De La Salle University Jins in the finals to end up second.
More runner-up finishes by the Golden Sox, Lady Shuttlecockers, Lady Fencers, and Growling Booters proved to be enough for UST to score the necessary points and clinch the UAAP overall championship.
On the verge of breaking their five-year title drought, the Golden Sox lost a controversial championship match against their nemesis UP. But UST put the game in protest and were given another shot at the coveted title via a rematch.
However, the tide would not turn in the Tiger Batters’ favor as they folded in pressure, suffering a humiliating rout in their second meeting.
The UST Lady Shuttlecockers, meanwhile, ended up with the first runner-up honors after bitter setbacks against touted opponents derailed their chances.
In fencing, the UST Lady Fencers duplicated their silver finish last year, behind rookie Harlene Orendain and team captain Christina Suba.
The UST Growling Booters, similarly, settled for silver after losing a one-point overtime game against the UP Booters.
IPEA Athletics moderator Felix Michael Silbor said that all along, there was never a doubt that UST would be able to dominate the second-semester events.
“Malakas talaga ang UST sa mga martial arts events kaya nakakahabol talaga tayo pag dating ng second semester,” Silbor said.
Eyes on 30
Next season, the Green Archers will surely try to aim for a historic “five-peat” in the men’s senior basketball tournament. But, what’s more likely to be an even bigger story is UST’s probable fifth straight and 30th overall UAAP general championship.
However, with the other universities doing all that they can to avert another reign by the Tigers, UST should not be over-confident.
“Whether UST will get its 30th UAAP general championship depends on the athletes. It is actually too early to assess our chances because all the other schools are really preparing for next season. In fact, during the UAAP meeting we had in UP, we saw that their gym was teeming with athletes. UP is intent on getting the general championship. They are doing everything that’s needed to be done to take home a general championship, which they last tasted three years ago,” De Sagon said.
There is no room for complacency for the Tigers as Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University and the University of the Philippines will surely be breathing down on UST’s necks next year.
With the level of competition getting higher every year, the task of dominating the UAAP’s 65th season would not be another easy assignment for UST. Dexter R. Matilla
