WILL title No. 13 prove unlucky for UST this time around?
Last season, UST claimed its 12th consecutive general championship, bringing to 37 its total since the UAAP began in 1938. The story of the new season will be basically the same, all teams trying to unseat the longtime champs. But going by UST’s different lineups, a 13th straight title will not be farfetched. The Tigers’ worst enemy will be complacency. Here is the Varsitarian’s Fearless Forecast:
BASKETBALL
Growling Tigers
Last season: Fourth place
Prediction: Fourth place
Tigers welcomed promising big men who could boost their run-and-gun plays. Without a clear superstar to bank on, coach Pido Jarencio’s young squad needs a lot of maturity and teamwork to cruise back to the Final Four. Rookie of the Year Jeric Teng, backcourt partners Jeric Fortuna and Clark Bautista, and holdovers Chris Camus and Carmelo Afuang will have to fill in the shoes of Most Valuable Player (MVP) Dylan Ababou, Allein Maliksi and Khasim Mirza. And don’t be surprised to see an old Tiger returning to play for UST, as five-foot-ten guard Jackson Wong, with batchmates Fortuna, Bautista, Afuang and Camus will reunite this Season 71 after a year of controversial hiatus, giving UST a defensive demeanor and perimeter threat lineup.
Tigresses
Last Season: Third Place
Prediction: Third Place
To compensate for the team’s lack of height, Tigresses coach Juli Amos made tactical changes this year. This time, the Tigresses will focus on their natural strengths: defense, speed, and agility.
After a heartbreaking loss to the Far Eastern University (FEU) that nailed them to fourth place last year, the Tigresses are eyeing a Final Four berth with better poise and maturity.
With the departure of shooting guard Katrina Fermin and teammates Lore Rivera and Reg Divina, rookies Keri Salvador, Kim Reyes and Angie Cabaylo should fight under the wings of veterans Paula Bombeo, Dominique Leonardo, Mikko Obrador, and Mary Silva.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Tiger Spikers
Last Season: Champion
Prediction: Champion
Although the fierce partnership of Jayson Ramos and Henry Pecaña are already tried and tested in the sand courts after reigning as beach volleyball kings for two years in a row, the duo might have to go their separate ways this season.
The coaches are currently looking for a suitable partner for Pecaña to substitute for Ramos who might miss this season due to eligibility troubles.
“The original plan is to stick to the same tandem but Jayson seems to have a problem regarding eligibility, that’s why we’re not yet sure if he would still play,” coach Vilet Ponce de Leon said in Filipino.
Both Pecaña and Ramos earned their MVP titles in their two years of beach volleyball supremacy. Pecaña was named Season 71 MVP while Ramos had his share of the limelight in 2009.
Lady Spikers
Last Season: Fourth Place
Prediction: Third place
The search is still on for the next women apprentice of UST in the sand courts. Candidates are Lady Spikers Sarah Gonzales, Valerie Amar, Dancel Dusaran and Judy Caballejo.
Caballejo once teamed up with open spiker Angeli Tabaquero in Season 71 beach volleyball wars where their lethal chemistry propelled UST to third place.
De Leon’s eyes are now fixed on the duo of Gonzales and Caballejo to redeem them from last season’s gamble.
Season 72 beach volleyball Rookie of the Year Maruja Banaticla previously teamed up with Sorsogon’s pride Jennifer Fortuna for a fourth-place finish last year.
Tiger Judokas
Last year: Second place
Prediction: Champion
Aside from their regular judo practices at the dojo, the Tiger Judokas have included basketball and swimming their training regime, mainly for endurance and stamina.
Coach Steve Esteban sees more aces coming in the lightweight division. Although the team will badly miss the services of veterans Jordan Carpio and John Herrera, Esteban believes that the squad is still in good hands with versatile rookie Stephen Que, a former UST Tigers-Team B, leading the way.
The high-caliber UST Judokas represented various regions of the country last April 17 to 19, garnering a total of nine gold, three silver and two bronze medals in the 2010 National Judo Individual Championships.
Tiger Judokas Nash Tagle, Jon Rodriguez, Bryan Llmas, Ian Monera, Harvy Navarro, Adrian Mercado and Season 72 Rookie of the Year Alexis Albor stamped their class in the off-season tournament.
Lady Judokas
Last Season: Second place
Prediction: Champion
The Lady Judokas have found a new home—the well-ventilated and equipped Philippine Center for Sports Medicine (PCSM). And they don’t mind sharing it with other athletes because they get to train with the RP team.
Team captain Setsuko Ando, a revelation in his rookie year last season, will spearhead UST’s medal hunt in the mats, bagging three out of the nine gold medals of UST in the National Judo Individual Championships last April, and whipped all regional champions from various divisions.
For coach Jojo Arce, injury would be the worst case scenario for UST. And to avoid it, Judokas would have to sacrifice joining other preseason matches.
“We will be focusing only on our UAAP campaign for now because we are trying to stay away from off-season injuries.” Arce said.
TABLE TENNIS
Tiger Paddlers
Last year: Second place
Prediction: Champion
After waving goodbye to their “three-peat” dream last year, the hard-hitting Paddlers are back with vengeance to regain the throne from perennial rivals FEU.
With the formidable arsenal of Season 71 Rookie of the Year Zoren Mendiola, comebacking team captain Michael Paña, Palarong Pambansa medalists Cristian Vicente and Martin Diaz, assistant coach Jackson Que believes the Tiger Paddlers have a 90-percent chance to make it to the top this year.
The Tiger Paddlers have the advantage of an intact lineup despite the absence of Genesis Dapat, Aaron Morales and Jose Mari Gentica.
Lady Paddlers
Last Year: Second place
Prediction: Champions
Unlike the Tiger Paddlers, their female counterparts will not parade an intact lineup this year. Only Season 71 Rookie of the Year Princess Masong and Jennyca Sequeña are left with experience to the team.
Without UST team captain Chrisma Capistrano, Palarong Pambansa champion Cassandra Bazar and Season 72 Rookie of the Year Henezey Aragon, a young lineup will banner the Lady Paddlers in their quest for redemption against their archrivals FEU to finally end a two-year championship dry spell.
“The skills of the rookies have not yet reached the level of Masong and Sequena,” Ortalla said. “But they still have a fighting chance,” said assistant coach Que.
SWIMMING
Tigersharks
Last year: Third place
Prediction: Second place
Coach Cyrus Alcantara’s Tigersharks settled for third place with a dismal 3-6-4 gold-silver-bronze medal haul last season. This year, lack of preparation seems to be Alcantara’s dilemma, because the UST pool is now being renovated and re-tiled. Nonetheless, the swimming team holds its training in Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
The Tigersharks opted not to join off-season campaigns last summer including the Private Schools Athletic Association National Games where they finished champions in 2009. University of the Philippines and San Beda College represented the National Capital Region in the tournament.
Carrying the leadership cudgels is team captain Miguel Carandang, expected to usher the young team back to the Promised Land.
Female Tigersharks
Last year: Fourth place
Prediction: Second place
The Female Tigersharks, the 2007 queens of the UAAP pool, sank to a lowly fourth place pocketing only two silvers and three bronzes last year.Like their male counterparts, the team’s lack of practice has become a major problem due to a limited use of the allegedly acidic UST pool.
“We don’t know yet (if the pool’s condition has improved) because the water has just been instilled there,” he said.
The quest for the championship will not be a walk in the park with University of the Philippines and De La Salle University vying for the podium.
Team captain Marvie Borja is expected to lead the charge for the women’s squad this season.
BADMINTON
Male Shuttlers
Last Year: Champion
Prediction: Champion
The skills and tactics of defending champions Male Shuttlers will go through an acid test in their title retention bid this year.
The departure of team captain and MVP Paolo Dawal will not be very hard to accept with the valuable addition of Ariel Magnaye, one of the Philippines’ top badminton players along with four other rookies.
Team captain Salvador Kapunan is confident that the team can get back to the championship scene despite the key loss of their former MVP.
“I think that this season our team is capable of making it to the Final Four and fight for the championship again,” he said. “Our target is a back-to-back championship.”
Female Shuttlers
Last Year: Fifth place
Prediction: Fourth place
The Female Shuttlers weren’t as lucky as their male counterparts to get into the Final Four last year. But this season, they hope to redeem themselves from that forgettable fifth-place finish.
“We are aiming to have a place in the Final Four because there is a higher chance for our team to be in the championship,” said team captain Chona Medina.
Newly recruited Patricia Barredo and Pia Lynne Fabros will infuse young blood into the team and make up for the loss of Lady Shuttlers Stephanie Pagarigan and Jemelle Vicencio.
Their off-season tilts were focused on improving their strength, speed, agility and stamina.
TAEKWONDO
Tiger Jins
Last Season: Champion
Prediction: Champion
Coming off a sweet finale last year, the Tiger Jins’ next target is a “three-peat.” Season 69 MVP Billy Coral left a huge void in the Tiger Jins’ lineup but the team remains intact and vastly dedicated to add another title to its collection.
Prized greenhorns Clint Ferrer and Adin Lim will reinforce the squad to fortify their reign.
To power up their title defense, the Tiger Jins hold their trainings five times a week.
They also joined the First Monsour Olympic Style Tournament, an invitational game last May where the Tiger Jins reaped two golds and a silver.
Lady Jins
Last Season: Second place
Prediction: Champion
After an unexpected second-place finish last season, the Lady Jins are hoping to bounce back and relive a “seven-peat” dynasty snatched from them by rivals FEU in Season 72.
With Aphrodite Brillantes out of the picture, rookies Jane Nana, Marynel Niango, Claudette Rosales, Yuei Hannah Murillo, Michelle Dagpin and Irene Parker are expected to step up in the mat wars.
Recently, the Lady Jins bagged two gold medals and a bronze in the First Monsour Olympic Style Tournament and were hailed champions in the All Womens’ Taekwondo championships last May.
CHEERDANCE
Salinggawi Dance Troupe
Last year: Fourth place
Prediction: Champion
It was the first time in UAAP Cheerdance history that five-time champions Salinggawi Dance Troupe did not make it to the top three spots last year. But this season, they intend to redeem the lost ground.
Salinggawi’s president Mara Gesmundo underscored the need to formulate unique, fresh and energetic routines in time for the “Year of the Tiger.” This will also serve as a prelude to the grand Quadricentennial celebration of the University.
Welcomed in the new brood of cheerdancers are 31 newbies and 40 seniors not even assured of a slot in the competition.
“We aim to show [them] what it means to be a Tiger,” said Gesmundo. The Sports Team and Brylle B. Tabora with reports from Camille Anne M. Arcilla
