THOMASIAN athletes are hungrier than ever to keep the overall crown in España. Here is the second part of The Varsitarian’s prediction of the University’s performance for the first semester sports this UAAP Season 78.
Growling Tigers
Last year: Sixth place
Prediction: Finals
With Ed Daquioag’s emergence as an MVP-caliber player, along with Kevin Ferrer’s and Karim Abdul’s steady performance, the Tigers are primed to go to the last dance after stumbling to a 5-9 finish last season.
The Tigers’ bench, one of the deepest in the UAAP, will be spearheaded by sharpshooters Renzo Subido and Louie Vigil, along with rookie scorers Mario Bonleon, Enrique Caunan, Marvin Lee, and Zachary Huang.
“Gusto naming umabot sa finals, pero we will have to approach the season one game at a time,” coach Bong dela Cruz told the Varsitarian.
Growling Tigresses
Last year: Fourth place
Prediction: Finals
With veterans Mythical Five member Lore Rivera, Kristine Siapoc, and Kim Reyes exhausting their playing years, head coach Chris Cantonjos is hoping that the Tigresses will flourish under new team captain Maica Cortes.
The Tigresses will bank on the momentum of their championship in the Filipino-Chinese Basketball League and runner-up finish in the Fr. Martin Pre-season Cup.
Returning Shanda Anies will bolster the run-and-gun offense with her outside shooting.
With Cortes and Filipino-Americans Candice Magdaluyo and Sofia Felisarta playing in their final year, Cantonjos is expecting that the team will exceed their disappointing finish last season.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga player, hindi tayo maglalaro para sa fourth place lang. So, aim din namin ang championship,” Cantonjos told the Varsitarian.
Male Judokas
Last Year: Champion
Prediction: Champion
There is a long tradition of dominance by UST’s judo program and the UST Male Judokas are unfazed in defending their title this season.
Even after missing the Philippine National Games, the squad is in top form coming off successful pre-season stints in the General Trias Invitational, Hajime Judo Tournament and Diliman Slam.
The team’s lineup from last year’s championship run remains basically intact even with the departure of two Judokas.
Season 77 MVP Al Rolan Llamas seeks to lead the squad for a potential back-to-back championship.
Lady Judokas
Last Year: Champion
Prediction: Champion
Even with the departure of Season 77 MVP Annie Ramirez and four other seniors, the UST Lady Judokas still is a force to be reckoned with this coming season.
Lady Judokas head coach Gerard Arce, who compared the team’s training to a soldier’s, said their young athletes are well equipped before they “go to war.”
Team captain Sueko Kinjho will lead the charge while there is a big expectation in rookie Miam Salvador who bagged silver and gold medals in the last Philippine National Games.
Male Paddlers
Last Year: Third Place
Prediction: Finals
After their semifinal meltdown against University of the Philippines last year, the UST Male Paddlers look to come out stronger and to never repeat the same mistake.
Head coach Jackson Que believes that the Paddlers are at their peak entering the season as they parade a veteran lineup with no rookies this year.
Team captain Adolfo Bazar will anchor the team together with Norielle Pantoja, Alberto Bazar, Christian Abendan and Gil Ablanque who trained with the Philippine Air Force last summer.
According to coach Que, Paul Que, Janssen Cruz and Justin Catalan are also expected to perform, noting that all of his players are “reliable.”
Tiger Cubs
Last year: Sixth place
This year: Fifth Place
The Tiger Cubs are far from returning to championship contention in the junior’s basketball as they enter the season with 13 rookies spearheaded by returning veteran Marlon Navarro.
Despite this, there is a lot of optimism for the Cubs as they try to rebuild this year and bounce back from a disappointing sixth place finish in Season 77.
“We’re trying to get to the Final Four first. Then from there, we’ll see. Pero ang game plan namin is one game at a time,” Tiger Cubs head coach Allan Ascue said.
Poomsae
Last year: Third place
This year: Second place
With the addition of Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Jerel Dalida and Angelica Peralta, the intact UST poomsae team will look to regain the championship they last won in 2013.
UST notched the inaugural title of the newly-recognized UAAP sport but failed to repeat a year later. The team settled for third behind University of the Philippines and De La Salle University.
“We will definitely do better than last year. The players have more experience now because they have been competing in different national competitions in preparation,” head coach Rani Ortega said.
Tigersharks
Last year: Third place
Prediction: Second place
The Tigersharks are now ready to show more grit this Season 78 with a more cohesive and mature squad.
Head coach Cyrus Alcantara said effective communication between his players would be their biggest weapon to raise the intensity of their play.
“‘Yung current disposition ng team is better than last year. Right now, mas positive sila, mas nagwo-work sila together, they are talking and they are thinking about sa kung ano ‘yung ikabubuti ng mga kasama nila,” Alcantara said.
The addition of UAAP juniors swimming standout Skyler Claveria is expected to bring new hopes for the squad while Jux Keaton Solita, Franz Marquez and Francis Alvin Marquez are looking to bag medals for points.
Female Tigersharks
Last year: Fourth place
Prediction: Third place
After a year-long absence, key returnees Thea Belen and Ryan Keith Regidor, alongside veteran Maegan Sanchez, are expected to show dominance and firepower this Season 78.
According to Alcantara, Angelic Saavedra and Samantha Cambronero could help the team’s campaign in earning quality points while Palarong Pambansa ace Katrina Aguelo is anticipated to excel in the individual medley and freestyle events.
“Ang edge [nila] ay parang sa men’s [team] lang din. They are just starting to mature,” Alcantara said.
UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe
Last year: Third place
Prediction: Third place
With less than a month before the much awaited cheerdance battle, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe team captain Gladys Eunice Cruz said the squad has improved on its stunts, its male lifters are now more capable.
“Syempre, iniisip namin mag-podium finish, na [makasamasa] top three this year, pero as of now, mas iniisip namin ma-hit lahat ng stunts namin eveytime na magra-run kami [ng] routine. We are about 60 percent ready [by now],” Cruz told the Varsitarian.
National University and UP are still expected to battle it out for the crown, and the SDT might again settle for third.
