WITH THE UAAP general championship within reach, Thomasian athletes are riding on the momentum of a solid performance in the first semester. Here is the Varsitarian’s forecast on how the remainder of Season 77 could unfold for UST.
VOLLEYBALL
Golden Tigresses
Last Year: Sixth Place
Prediction: Finals
With an intact lineup bolstered by highly regarded rookies, the UST Golden Tigresses are raring to return to the Final Four after missing out in the past two years of the UAAP.
Team captain Pamela Lastimosa and veteran Carmela Tunay are expected to lead the squad in its quest to revive the UST volleyball’s winning tradition.
Head coach Odjie Mamon is also counting on Marivic Meneses to anchor their defense as she was named Best Blocker in the Shakey’s V-League last summer.
But all eyes will be on the debut of the UAAP girls’ volleyball MVP and V-League Best Scorer EJ Laure, who is expected to boost the Tigresses’ firepower and is an early favorite to win the Rookie of the Year plum.
Cebu standout and UAAP Season 77 beach volleyball MVP Cherry Ann Rondina will also suit up to help UST’s cause this year.
Meanwhile, Alexine Cabanos will take over Loren Lantin at the setter position and is armed with an array of scorers to choose from.
Aside from other key returnees like graduating libero Dancel Dusaran and Jesse de Leon, UST will parade a deeper bench this year with Chloe Cortez, neophytes Mary Pacres, Sarah Verutiao and Alyssa Alterado.
Tiger Spikers
Last year: Sixth Place
Prediction: Finals
Spearheaded by the veteran core of team captain Romnick Rico, former MVP Mark Alfafara and Kevin Dela Cruz, the UST Tiger Spikers are bound for a strong comeback after missing the playoffs the last two years.
The Tigers, after finishing a dismal sixth place last year, are under a new system as national team and UST women’s team coach Odjie Mamon will dictate the plays along the sidelines.
“The team has a mix of experience, maturity and potential. Even a finals showing is possible,” Mamon said.
UST acquired rookies Timothy Tajan-Langit, Ulyros Lopez and Jiri Buro to help power its offense while Alfafara, playing for his last year, is more than motivated to end his UAAP career with another title.
“Mas ginawa kaming intact hindi lang sa skills, pati sa teamwork kaya mas lalaban tayo this season,” said Alfafara.
CHESS
Male Woodpushers
Last year: Fourth place
Prediction: Champion
Suffering a sudden dip last year after winning it all in Season 75, the UST Male Woodpushers are gearing up for another run to dethrone their rivals, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws.
Head coach Ronald Dableo is confident that his team will find its groove this season and avoid another late-season collapse they went through last year.
Dableo is banking on former Most Valuable Player Timothy So Kua to redeem himself and carry the team back to the top.
UST will also rely on Christian Flores and Heirry Manaloto to fend off FEU and Adamson University, the top two teams in the UAAP chess tournament last season.
Female Woodpushers
Last year: Fourth place
Prediction: Final Four
The UST Female Woodpushers will rely on the skills of veterans Michelle Yaon and Michaela Concio to finally break into the Final Four this year.
Dableo hopes that the tenacity and unwavering dedication of his players will pay off this season.
“Hindi tayo mawawalan ng trophy. ‘Yung strength at attitude nandyan na ‘yan, sa execution na lang magkakatalo,” Dableo said.
The team still considers De La Salle University as the biggest threat in this year’s tournament.
BASEBALL
Golden Sox
Last year: Fourth place
Prediction: Finals
After a fourth-place finish in Season 76, the UST Golden Sox are raring to bounce back and vie for the title anew this year.
The Golden Sox competed and bowed out early in the Philippine Sports Commission Chairman’s (PSC) Baseball Cup last November but managed to escape the UAAP defending champion Ateneo De Manila University in their opening game.
Team captain and former Rookie of the Year Arvin Plaza said that the PSC tourney served as their gauge in the upcoming UAAP tournament.
“Gumanda ‘yung offense namin at nag-mature na rin ‘yung mga players. Lahat ‘yun makakatulong sa paghahanda namin sa UAAP. Maganda ring exposure ang pagsali namin sa PSC kasi nakita namin ‘yung laro ng ibang UAAP teams,” Plaza said.
Along with Plaza, the veterans who will fortify the team and return to the baseball diamond include Christian Mercado, Kirk Daquis and Arcel Aligno.
SOFTBALL
UST Softbelles
Last year: Third place
Prediction: Second place
THE UST Softbelles will have to go through four-time defending champion Adamson Lady Falcons this year to have a shot at the title they last won in 2009.
With an intact core featuring team captain Jennalyn Polario, Kristine Lacupa, pitchers Luisse Garde and Mary Ann Antolihao as well as all-around player Charmaine Oria, the Softbelles have their work cut out for them as they challenge Adamson, which won 49 consecutive games with their last defeat coming in February 2010 last Season 72.
Assistant coach Aiza dela Torre believes the competition will be tougher this year as other teams have already recruited top rookies, especially pitchers, from the provinces.
UST will be parading seven rookies themselves, with Celestine Palma, a prized recruit from Bacolod, taking over the starting catcher position.
Dela Torre believes that the team is still not 100 percent-ready but said that they are working on team chemistry to fulfill their ultimate goal: to bring back the crown to España.
“Nasa stage pa lang kami na bini-build up pa lang namabuo ‘yung team talaga. Iwo-work on natin ‘yung puso talaga, hindi lang sa responsibilidad nila ‘to, kung hindi dahil mahal nila ‘yung ginagawa nila,” said dela Torre.
FENCING
Women’s fencing team
Last year: Second place
Prediction: Champion
Men’s fencing team
Last year: Fifth place
Prediction: Podium Finish
THE UST Fencing team could dethrone the University of East with a reinforced lineup featuring members from the national team.
Head coach Champ Fuenzalida believes that as UE and other teams lost most of their own national team mainstays, UST now has the best shot to claim the overall title.
The squad will try to bank on team captain Hey Abella, Kim Camahalan, Mylene Paelma, all national team members on the women’s team while Noelito Jose, Noel Arribas, Jessie Suarez will try to lead the men’s team for a podium finish.
The women’s team, who only lost Donita Navarro to graduation, will keep an intact lineup while the men’s team will miss the leadership of veteran Rodolfo Duterte due to academic deficiencies but will get a boost from rookie Jomar Chavez.
“Ang level ng UST at ng ibang team, halos pantay-pantay naman e. Ang nagkaroon lang ng problema sa recruiting kaya naubusan sila ng players. Tayo continuous ang recruiting kaya continuous rin ang progress ng mga bata,” said Fuenzalida.
FOOTBALL
Tiger Booters
Last Year: Third place
Prediction: Third place
The Tiger Booters will take the role of the dark horse in the UAAP tournament after losing five key players due to ineligibility but improved their overall team chemistry inside the field.
UST will miss the services of Ronald Batislaong, Albert Llevares, Fidel Kue and Daryl Regala, leaving the team with a thin bench this year. They also lack an extra goalkeeper this season.
Head coach Marjo Allado is hoping for a healthy and suspension-free season for his team to avoid a huge blow in the middle of the tournament and make up for the University’s sudden academic shift which caused problems in training and player eligibility.
The Tigers will lean on team captain Gino Clarino, Norwyn Ortanez, Filipino-Japanese Marvin Bersinio, and Steven Anotado.
Lady Booters
Last Year: Second place
Prediction: Second place
The shift in the academic calendar of the University also bore an impact to the championship bid of the UST Lady Booters for UAAP Season 77, as they lost eight veterans due to academic deficiencies.
However, head coach JR Judal remains confident that his team is still one of the heavy contenders in the women’s football tournament, citing the team’s chemistry on and off the field.
UAAP Season 76 Best Goalkeeper and this year’s team captain Rara Luna is expected to step up along with veterans Pearl Aguilar and Marie Magdolot.
Meanwhile, seven rookies will try to help boost the wounded Tigresses in an attempt to wrest the title away from FEU.
ATHLETICS
Male Tracksters
Last year: Second place
Prediction: Second place
Though without a complete lineup, the Male Tracksters are still poised for another podium finish this year.
Two key players were barred in the competition after missing the required cut-off grade to qualify in the Tracksters’ lineup, while another sustained a fractured wrist during practice.
“If we had completed our roster, we might have a shot at taking the crown,” head coach Manny Calipes said in a previous interview with the Varsitarian.
Beefing up the Season 77 roster are rookies Kevin Capangpangan, Joel Hera, Jay Nieles, Jhon Lloyd Lamaclamac and Lionel Tapales.
With the influx of several rookies and the combined efforts of the veterans, the team remains positive that they can still retain their top three spot in the league.
Female Tracksters
Last year: Second place
Prediction: Champion
The Female Tracksters are out to put an end to FEU’sdecade-long dominance and capture the Season 77 crown.
Armed with a better and intact lineup, head coach Manny Calipes is confident that his wards are ready to take on the challenge to surpass the Tamaraws this year.
He added that intense but gradual training became their key strategy in improving the players physically and mentally.
Bolstering the Lady Tracksters lineup are five rookies including Louielyn Pamatian, Aira Teodosia, Alyssa Andrade, Michelle de Vera and Rizelle dela Paz.
“Nasa fighting form na sila ngayon, pero dapat pag-dating ng day of competition nasa peak condition na sila,” he said.
LAWN TENNIS
Male Tennisters
Last year: Fourth place
Prediction: Second place
A reinforced Male Tennisters will try to bounce back from a dismal outing last season and try to notch a higher spot in the Final four.
Falling short of a medal last season, the team underwent a tougher physical and mental training to develop their skills and focus during competitions.
“Lahat ginawa na naming sa training namin, sa preparations and conditioning, lahat ng way nagawa para mapa-improve pa sila ginawa na namin,” head coach Alexander Diego said.
To strengthen their winning chances, the Tigers tapped the services of rookies Bernlou Bering and Francis Lansado to join team captain Bernanlou Bering and former Rookie of the Year Joel Cabusas.
Defending champion NU and the University of the Philippines remain as the top threats for UST’s campaign.
Female Tennisters
Last year: Third place
Prediction: Second place
The Female Tennisters are hoping for a comeback season this year after settling with a bronze to cap season 76.
Head coach Dennis Santa Cruz believes his squad has enough training and confidence required to bring back the lost glory of their team.
“I am hoping na umabot sa finals kasi ang goal talaga namin is just champion or first runner up,” he said.
Santa Cruz added that he will lean on the efforts of their veterans including team captain April Santos and former MVP Macy Gonzales to step up their game as the team aims for the top spot.
Although only one rookie is confirmed to play this season, the team remains intact and on track for another podium finish. The Sports Team
