THOMASIAN athletes went home with individual awards to cap UST 14th straight UAAP general championship.
Tiger Jin Joaquin Mendoza was named Athlete of the Year in the juniors division as the UAAP officially came to a close during ceremonies held at the Philippine International Convention Center last March 10.
After emerging as the top rookie last season, Mendoza bagged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum together with teammate Aaron Agojo, as they led UST to its ninth overall junior’s taekwondo championship.
Tigershark Miguel Carandang was named “Athlete Scholar”-a recognition given to student-athletes who also excel in academics—alongside Bobby Ray Parks Jr. of National University’s men’s basketball, and five other players.
Carandang, a student from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, led the Tigersharks to a respectable runner-up finish in this year’s swimming competition. He bagged a gold medal in 50-meter freestyle and four silvers in the 50-meter backstroke, 50-meter breast stroke, 100-meter backstroke, and 100-meter breast stroke events.
Swimmer Johansen Aguilar of De La Salle University and Rizza Bernardino of Adamson University softball shared Athlete of the Year honors in the seniors’ division.
Institute of Physical and Athletics Director Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P. formally received UST’s 39th and 14th overall championship trophies in senior’s and junior’s divisions, respectively.
“For the past years, humina din yung team ng UST. We did not expect to win this overall title. Marami kasi sa mga athlete namin ang kinukuha ng ibang school,” De Sagon said.
MVPs from different sporting events were also put under the spotlight: Jayson Ramos (men’s volleyball), Judy Caballejo (women’s beach volleyball), Aaron Morales (men’s table tennis), Macy Gonzales (women’s lawn tennis), Brian Llamas (men’s judo), Shellale Belo (women’s judo), Donnie Navarro (men’s fencing), Dane Pio de Roda (men’s taekwondo), and Marie Magdolot (women’s football). Also recognized were four UST athletes who bagged the Rookie of the Year honors: April Santos (women’s tennis), Lucky Flores (men’s judo), and Xavier Ilustre (swimming.
Other athletes were honored for participating in international competitions: Growling Tigers Jeric Fortuna and Jeric (under-21 RP team in the Southeast Asian Games), national team mainstays Marlon Avenido and Jade Zafra (who donned the flag in the taekwondo olympic qualifier with fellow Thomasian jins John Mendoza, Anthony Soriano, Shaneen Sia), and Marvin Gabriel, and Ana Paghubasan, Angelique Benjamin, and Melanie Laserna (softball).In the nightcap, current UAAP president Ricky Palou (Ateneo) officially turned over the UAAP hosting chores to National University’s Nilo Ocampo. Jan Edward B. Ballesteros and Chenny V. Ramos
