WITH just over a month left before the UAAP hostilities begin, Thomasian athletes, including the Salinggawi Dance Troupe (SDT), reaped awards in the POC-PSC Philippine National Games.
UST fencers placed third in the group division of the men’s and women’s foil, and men’s and women’s saber at the Philsports Arena Fencing Hall in Pasig last May 25.
Foil head coach Emerson Segui was the lone medal winner for UST in the singles event, taking home a silver in the men’s foil tournament.
“I expected more from the team since they played well during the past UAAP season. But these games can really prepare them for season 75,” Segui said. “I did not play during the group stages to let the players play on their own.”
The Lady Judokas finished with a 3-2-6 gold-silver-bronze haul.
Season 73 Most Valuable Player Annie Ramirez pocketed a gold medal in the women’s open weight division, after demolishing fellow Lady Judoka Jewel de Castro in the finals. She also topped the -63 kg division.
Jyniene Honorio likewise bagged a gold in the -70kg division, while Amina Lucman settled for a silver in the -63 kg division.
Diane Villalobos, Ednorly San Andres, and Janet Alhido were good for bronze medals in the +78 kg, -70 kg, and -48 kg events, respectively.
In men’s play, the Male Judokas snared a silver and three bronze medals.
Nash Tagle grabbed a silver in the -81 kg competitions, while Kazuki Masuoka, Season 74 Best Player Brian Llamas, and Jon Rodriguez settled for bronze in the +100 kg and -66 kg divisions, respectively.
In what turned out to be a repeat of their Season 74 performance, the Golden Sox succumbed to Rizal Technological University (RTU), 5-10, at the Rizal Baseball Stadium last May 30 to place fourth in the tournament.
With the score tied at 2-all in the third inning, RTU fired three runs to go ahead at 5-2 and pull away for good.
UAAP Season 74 Best Rookie Arvin Plaza finished with four runs-batted-in (RBI), including a centerfield hit in the eight frame that sent team captain Kasulhay Argel to the homeplate.
Adding one more RBI for UST was Christian Mercodao, who also won five of seven games in the elimination round.
“We could have won the game, but errors took their tolls on us,” said Plaza, who also played for the RP Youth U-18.
The duo of veteran Tiger Spikers Jayson Ramos and Henry Pecaña exited early in the beach volleyball tournament after falling prey to opponents from Cebu and Tawi- Tawi.
The tandem won only against Foundation University from Dumaguete, 21-15, 21-17, at the Quezon Park in Dumaguete City last May 27.
The SDT brought home three medals in the cheering competition at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last May 15.
SDT bagged twin golds in the cheerdance and all-female group stunts categories, and silver in the mixed group stunts division.
New president Dan Dimaculangan said the team only joined three of the five events to focus on cheerdancing.
“We want to concentrate on cheerdancing for we can use [our experience here] in preparing for the UAAP cheerdance competition,” he said.
SDT bested University of Asia and the Pacific (3rd place), and Miriam College (2nd place), and Concepcion National High School in the cheerdance category with its ballet-inspired routine.
Salinggawi featured can-can dance, a type of showgirl maneuver wherein legs are lifted to the air, to steer away from the usual tumbling and spins. J. E. B. BALLESTEROS and R. S. J. T. LOZADA
