ROXAS City, Capiz—The nine UST teams that competed in five different sporting events all went home without a title after the 16th Philippine Sports Commission–University Games (Unigames) from Oct. 22 to 29.
The delegation settled for four runner-up finishes in the men’s volleyball, women’s football, athletics and lawn tennis competitions. The Male Trackers ended up at third place, while women’s beach volleyball and men’s lawn tennis squads settled for fourth.
“The Unigames will help us gauge our [would-be] performance in the second semester of this year’s UAAP,” Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P. said, Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) director.
Came up short
Unigames defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU) denied the UST Tiger Spikers’ bid to reclaim the crown they last held in 2009 after a nail-biting, three-set sweep, 21-25, 28-30, 27-29, last Oct. 29.
Salvador Depante led UST with 15 points, while Mark Alfafara and Jayson Ramos chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.
After an erratic two sets, the Tiger Spikers fought hard in the last frame as Depante threw a neutralizer to draw the 12th deadlock of the final set. But FEU skipper Rodolfo Labrador countered with two straight points en route to their back-to-back victory.
“Even though we lost in the Unigames, we will bring home the crown in UAAP,” coach Emil Lontoc said.
The Tiger Spikers reached the finals stint after whipping the National University (NU), 26-24, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 15-8.
With the teams tied at two sets apiece, Alfafara uncorked a 6-1 barrage, sealed by Depante’s kill that gave UST a five-point cushion in the last set, 10-5.
The Tigers Spikers had a 13-8 advantage after NU made a final push anchored on Axel Santiago’s attack.
In women’s play, the Lady Spikers bowed out of contention early after an unlikely debacle against the Adamson University in the quarterfinals, 25-22, 25-27, 25-20, 10-25, 15-10, last Oct. 27.
The Lady Spikers, along with Ateneo De Manila University, NU, and FEU settled for a fifth-place finish.
“Four of our players were struggling, but still they fought hard. Although we were eliminated early, we still have an edge to win the UAAP tiara,” coach Odjie Mamon said.
The Lady Spikers ruled the elimination round as they trounced the Jose Maria College (25-14, 25-7, 25-15), Central Philippines University (22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-18, 15-10), and De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (25-18,25-19,25-23 and 25-18,26-24,25-09).
The University of St. La Salle in Bacolod won the championship after defeating Adamson, 25-20, 25-15, 25-20.
Rivals’ rematch
In what seemed to be a rematch of the UAAP Season 73 women’s football finals, the the Lady Booters succumbed to rival FEU last Oct. 28.
“Let’s just do better in the UAAP, besides, that’s our real target,” coach Rozano Estrabon said.
The Lady Booters absorbed a 1-2 bashing after FEU’s Alesa Dolino scored on a freekick at the eighth minute of the extension period to end UST’s title bid for good.
“When we were called for a foul, FEU had the chance to score,” Estrabon said.
From a sloppy first half, UST striker Nikki Regalado, also a national team mainstay, found an open lane to sneak a goal through FEU’s goalkeeper Libra Villarante that tied the count at 1-all at the 28th minute of the second half.
Midway in the field, veteran Aiza Mondero tried her luck at the side to seal the deal for the España troop, but her attempt hit only the upper loop of the box.
UST unleashed a stream of strikes down the line, including a close goal by Regalado just a few minutes after her successful break out score.
Sank on the sand
In beach volleyball, the black-and-gold duo of Kat Carangan and Jamie Morado were upset by an unheralded duo from the Foundation University (FU) of Dumagete City, 21-14, 19-21, 12-15, in their semifinals match to end up at fourth place last Oct. 28.
FU’s tandem of Hannah Ollina and Salamatu Yoshawu forced the Lady Spikers to commit three consecutive errors.
“The girls played well, but they fell short,” Lontoc said. “But it’s okay because this will serve as a learning experience for them.”
Unlike their female counterparts, the Tiger Spikers failed to enter the semifinals with a lowly 1-2 card in Bracket A of the competition.
UST’s Ervin Buenaventura and Ranil de Guzman defeated hapless University of the Philippines, 12-7, but the win was not enough to catch up with the other teams in their bracket, including top-seeded FU (3-1) and University of Southern Philippines Foundation (2-1).
A solid finish
The Lady Tracksters grabbed the second spot while the Male Tracksters settled for a second runner-up finish in the Unigames Athletics competition last Oct. 25 to 27.
“Paramihan lang ng gold medals dito sa Unigames,” said coach Manny Calipes. “Our performance was good, and it’s a stepping stone for the UAAP season.”
FEU collected 10 gold medals, five silver, and six bronze medals, the UST women’s team only racked up 5-7-5 of their own.
Season 70 Rookie of the Year Luville Dato-on carried the women’s flag with a superior 5.49 meters record in the long jump event. Viena Mae Banebane notched the 100-meter hurdles (15:31) while trailing her by just four seconds was another Thomasian Michelle Loterte (15:35). Lilia Dela Rosa topped the 1,500-meter run (4:54.31).
Keizel Pedriña snatched three silver medals in the following events: 400 meters (1:00.28 seconds), 200-meter dash (26.06 seconds), and 400-meter dash (59.75 seconds). Dato-on grabbed twin silvers in the 100-meter dash (12.44 seconds) and 100 meters (12:50). De la Rosa and Loterte also snared one silver in the 800-meter dash (2:18.97 seconds) and triple jump (11.51 meters) events, respectively.
Rizza Faith Sombilla bagged two bronze medals in the shot put (9.24 meters) and javelin throw (33.71 centimeters) contests. Janice Marquez, Jessa Fernandez, De la Rosa, Banebane, and Dato-on also placed third in 5,000-meter dash (19:35.08 seconds), discus throw (30.53 meters), 3,000-meter run (11:22.15 seconds), 100-meter hurdle (15.48 seconds), and 200-meter dash (26.23 seconds), respectively.
Meanwhile, the men’s team trailed behind title-holder FEU and runner-up La Salle that collected an identical 3-3-3 gold-silver-bronze output.
John Billiones and Roger Denolo stomped their class in the 800-meter dash (1:55.91 seconds) and 3,000-meter run (9:44.00 seconds) to highlight the troop’s escapade, while the latter also snatched a silver in 5000-meter dash (16:03.78 seconds). Marvin Cupenario also notched the long jump event with a 6.8-meter record.
Emmanuel de los Angeles and Ernie Sabiurda placed second in the 110-meter hurdle (14.87 seconds) and discus throw (37.41 meters), respectively.
In the triple jump event, James Bordes brought home a bronze (14.10).
Lawn Tennis
The Lady Tennisters wound up second after losing to La Salle, while their male counterparts fell to fourth place last Oct. 27.
UST’s duo of Macy Gonzales and Gigi Helar absorbed a 4-8 lackluster performance and failed to make up for an earlier bashing of Dianne Bautista in the singles match, 1-8.
The Male Tennisters had an early exit in the competition as La Salle trounced them via a 6-8, 6-8, 6-8 sweep.
“We weren’t able to win in the doubles matches because I experimented with the match-ups,” said coach Gabby Remigio. “I think the players in the doubles must improve their familiarity to each other.”
