THE SHIFT in academic calendar, which also adjusted the UAAP schedule, provided extra training and recovery time for UST athletes, who now sit at the top of the overall ranking.
With five out of eight participating schools adjusting their academic calendars, host University of the Philippines moved the schedule of the UAAP Season 78 two months later than the usual July opening.
If last year’s schedule was adapted, the basketball championships should have been done by now and the second semester tournaments should have started already.
This change proved pivotal in UST’s overall championship campaign especially for the men’s basketball team, which is now in the Finals after an injury-plagued season 77.
The Growling Tigers would have entered the season without the services of two-time Mythical Five member Karim Abdul, who suffered a knee injury last summer, if the tournament commenced in July.
“[Noong] July, si Karim (Abdul) hindi pa makatalon at makatakbo,” UST Growling Tigers conditioning coach Kris Anthony Agarao told the Varsitarian.
The two-month layoff gave extra recovery time for other injured Tigers like veterans Kevin Ferrer (ankle), Louie Vigil (hip), and Ed Daquioag (ankle), Renzo Subido (knee), and rookies Jeepy Faundo (knee), Kyle Suarez (knee), and Mario Bonleon (knee).
“Sa pananaw ko siguro iba ang posisyon natin in terms of standing [kung nag-start ang season ng maaga,]” Agarao said.
‘On the right track’
Rodrigo Sambuang, UST athletic moderator, commended the athletes for adjusting well with the academic calendar shift.
“As of now, tingin ko maganda naman ‘yung tinatakbo natin despite the schedule adjustment, kaso leading pa rin ang La Salle. Maganda naman ‘yung performance especially ng men’s taekwando and poomsae. We are on the right track pa rin naman sa UAAP,” Sambuang said.
The Tiger Jins also benefited from the adjustment as they grabbed gold medals in the men’s taekwando and poomsae championships.
The champions dominated various pre-season tournaments, including the Hangnadam Taekwando Meet in South Korea and the National Poomsae Taekwando Championship 2015 where poomsae captain Jo Ninoblawon gold medals.
These events helped the Tiger Jins set their momentum and strengthen their championship bid going to Season 78.
Sand court powerhouse Tiger Spikers, Lady Jins, Male Paddlers and Salinggawi Dance Toupe settled for runner-up finishes this season. The Female Paddlers picked up a bronze.
With an additional month for preparation due to time adjustment, Salinggawi showcased an almost flawless routine at the 2015 cheerdance competition.
However, last year’s beach volleyball champions Cherry Anne Rondina and Rica Jane Rivera slid to fifth place this season, their worst finish in five years.
The UAAP beach volleyball tournament was usually held in August, the month when Rondina and Rivera apparently “peaked” this year.
They were untouchable last August, sweeping the pre-season tourney Ibalong Cup with a 10-0 win-loss card against the same opponents who beat them in the UAAP two months later. Last year’s UAAP beach volleyball games were also held in August where they were undefeated en route to a championship.
Rondina, however, downplayed the idea that the calendar shift had an impact on their conditioning and peaking.
“Hindi naging rason ang calendar shift. Kasi kung nilarong tama at binuhos ng todo kung paano [dapat] maglaro, [‘yung] resulta magiging basehan. Dapat handa lang every time, part naman ‘yun ng pagiging athlete. In-accept lang naming ang lahat kahit sobrang masakit sa kalooban but I know [there’s’ a good reason why it happened,” Rondina said.
With the general championship race tied at 137 between UST and the De La Salle University, the University could still snatch the first place should the Growling Tigers win the title and La Salle’s women’s basketball team settle for second place. UST would then finish the first semester with 152 points while La Salle would be trailing with 149 points. C.A. Casingcasing and J.C.P. Fajardo
