WHAT SEPARATES the España army from their Taft-based challengers is a precarious 13 point-lead, while the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Far Eastern University (FEU) are not too far away in the third spot in the UAAP general championship race. With the level of intensity getting tougher in the second semester sports events, does the team has enough diesel to carry the Thomasian spirit to the finish line?
Editor’s note: More fearless forecasts in the next issue.
ATHLETICS
Female Tracksters
Last Season: Second place
Prediction: Champion
Failing to break the five-year bridesmaid curse last season, the Female Tracksters can only find themselves thirstier to finally nail the elusive crown.
Coach Manny Calipes believes that the team has a higher potential to outrun the seemingly insurmountable FEU and University of the East (UE) with his new recruits, who proved their worth in UST’s recent championship in University Games.
Because FEU keeps defeating them in the point-system of UAAP, Calipes tried to adjust his tactics as the Female Tracksters were trained to be multi-event athletes, who shall concentrate not only in their field of expertise, but also in other events.
“We already have back-up runners to score more points,” said Calipes, explaining that if the back-up runners could also keep up, even if they don’t top the events, they could give the team a big lift in points.
“They will be given extra events,” he said. “They know they have to sacrifice. I just told them to stay ahead of every FEU runner.”
Male Tracksters
Last Season: Fourth place
Prediction: Any of the Final Four slots
After ending University of the East’s eight-year dominance in the oval in Season 65, the Male Tracksters seem to be doomed under a spell, as they would suffer eight years without a championship title if they fail to win now.
With rookie players covering more than half of the team, they have to go through the rocky road before reaching the Promised Land.
“They need a lot of improvement as they are composed of more than 50 percent rookies,” said coach Manny Calipes.
The only outstanding recruit, according to Calipes, is Rizal Kasim, the lone gold medalist for UST in their Unigames stint. This superb javelin thrower was spotted in the Palarong Pambansa.
“Compared to UAAP throwers, he [Kasim] has a higher standard throw. Other recruits are too young. In athletics, there is an advantage in training when your players are older,” said Calipes.
VOLLEYBALL
Lady Spikers
Last season: Champion
Prediction: Any of the Final Four slots
Fresh from a championship cruise in Unigames against title contender De La Salle University, the Lady Spikers definitely have a bright future to look forward in Season 73.
However, coach Cesael de Los Santos does not want overconfidence to ruin their momentum and instructed the team to take things one step at a time.
An intact and experienced lineup will be UST’s advantage over the other squads despite the graduation of open spiker Angeli Tabaquero and the unexpected departure of Dindin Santiago, who will play for the National University after the completion of her two-year residency.
Expected to raise the stakes for the squad are three-time Shakey’s V-league Most Valuable Player (MVP) and team captain Aiza Maizo who will play alongside the veteran antics of Season 72 Finals MVP Rhea Dimaculangan, Maruja Banaticla, Judy Caballejo, and Maika Ortiz.
De Los Santos will also be banking on prized greenhorns like Midori Hirotsuji from UST high school and Dancel Busaran’ who hails from Bacolod City.
“I have a huge faith with my veteran players to aid the rookies inside the court so they will not feel nervous.”
Tiger Spikers
Last Year: Champion
Prediction: Champion
Like their female counterparts, the hard-slapping Tiger Spikers will boast an intact lineup from last year’s champion team to anchor them to the fulfillment of their “four-peat” dream this season.
The void left by chief setter Ray Karl Dimaculangan won’t be easy to fill in but promising rookies Mark Alfafara, John Subiere and Romnick Rico are expected to bring it on with their A-game’ along with seasoned veterans Henry Pecaña, Kerr Ucang, John Paul Torres, Paul Jan Doloiras, Jayson Ramos, and Harby Ilano.
The Tiger Spikers essayed a third place finish in the Unigames after an unlikely debacle against rival team FEU in the semifinals but coach Emil Lontoc is still in high hopes that UST is capable of defending the UAAP crown with their rigid training and championship experience.
FENCING
Male Fencers
Last Year: Second Place
Prediction: Second Place
For the undermanned UST Fencing team, the riddle remains unanswered: how to attract more players in a sport that is not too popular to the crowd and make them stay for a couple of years.
Recruitment has been a pain in the neck for the team and the dilemma continues with the departure of Donnie Navarro, one of the ace players of UST, who bagged a silver in the individual sabre category last year.
“Our main problem is the lack of players in the team,” said team captain Harris Orendain, who is expected to bolster UST in men’s sabre. “Because of this, one player is bound to play two weapons instead of specializing in a single weapon alone.”
Last year, the Male Fencers fell short of carving a grandslam title after their loss against the University of the East, but with the valuable addition of rookie Jordan Sapitan in men’s foil and their constant practice with the National team, redeeming the crown will not be an impossible dream.
“We are more united now and we play as a team, unlike before, kanya-kanya kami ng laro,” he said.
Lady Fencers
Last Season: Fifth Place
Prediction: Second or Third Place
Resurrecting from a dismal fifth place won’t be a walk in the park for the Lady Fencers, but with their daily training with the National team at the Philsports Arena, their skills are constantly getting tougher and they are also well-provided with the required equipment.
Last year’s bronze medalist Daryl Kaye Natividad of women’s epee will be hanging her fencing uniform due to graduation, but it won’t cripple the team entirely with Michelle Manimtim, Mikaela De Torres, Emmie Sapitan, Donita Navarro, and Joanna Marie Guevara armed with enough experience from last season, and as they are expected to give their hearts out for this year’s UAAP hostilities.
Although the team has not been very active in off-season games, some of the players participated in the first recreational tri-weapon fencing tournament last November 20 to 21 in Ultra.
LAWN TENNIS
Male Tennisters
Last season: Champion
Prediction: Any of the Final Four slots
Amid losing the core of last year’s champion team, including former team captain Keane Barraquias, and Season 72 co-MVPs Miguel Narvaez, and Raymond Villarete, surrender is never an option for the Male Tennisters.
Last season’s rookie revelation Arn Procianos, together with new recruit Kim Sarasa, a top rank RP Under-18 tennister, will carry the torch for UST this year with the absence of their veteran players.
Promising rookies such as Bernalou Bering and Alfrancis Potutan are also expected to bolster the España crew who will go up against the dangerous squad of De La Salle, Ateneo, and UP.
“We always come out hungrier every game,” team captain Ralph Kevin Barte, an AB Economics sophomore said in Filipino. “The players are well-motivated and focused because we have this mindset that every opponent is capable of beating us.”
