FOR MANY years, UST has consistently produced Philippine team-calibre players.
This summer, three Thomasian athletes will be donning the national colors in upcoming international events.
Growling Tiger Kevin Ferrer will suit up for the Sinag Pilipinas basketball squad scheduled to see action in the Southeast Asian Games in June in Singapore.
Meanwhile, UAAP Season 77 Best Blocker Marivic Meneses and Rookie of the Year EJ Laure were part of a Philippine team that defied expectations and snagged seventh place in the Asian Women’s Under-23 Volleyball Championships last May 1 to 9.
Ferrer, after nursing a right hand injury in the last UAAP season, is finally back in shape to join forces with fellow collegiate standouts Keifer Ravena, Mac Belo, Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. and naturalized center Marcus Douthit.
Sinag Pilipinas breezed through the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship last April, which served as a qualifier for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships in September.
The lanky forward said he was looking to use his seventh stint with the national team to power the Tigers’ campaign next season.
“To be a part of the national team is an honor since millions of Filipinos are dreaming to become a part of the Philippine team, so I think I’m super blessed,” he said.
Meneses and Laure, both first-time members of the national team, provided quality minutes off-the-bench as the country went head-to-head against Asia'a elite.
Meneses vowed to work hard for the national team, knowing also that it could improve her game for UST in the future.
“Flattering, syempre kasi nakaka-honor para sa part mona maging part ng national team. Pressured din syempreat the same time kasi bitbit mo hindi lang ‘yung pangalanng school mo which is UST, bitbit mo din ‘yung pangalanng country mo,” Meneses said.
The 17-year-old Laure said she did not expect to be included in the 12-woman roster of the U-23 squad, which features reigning two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo and Myla Pablo under the tutelage of head coach Roger Gorayeb and Thai coach Tai Bundit.
“Nakaka-overwhelm talaga kasi ‘di ko naman in-expect kaagad na magna-national team ako. Ine-expect ko na magi-improve ako kasi si coach Tai ‘yung nagte-training sa amin at saka nado-double time kami para umayos ‘yung performance,” Laure said. Delfin Ray M. Dioquino
