Tag: 2009

UST ATHLETES often show a tough facade when it comes to fighting for their cause in the sporting arena.

But come Christmas time, these black-gold-white warriors are no different from any other individual, hoping to have their wishes fulfilled

In line with the holiday spirit, the Varsitarian asked what Thomasian athletes wanted to receive this christmas, apart from bringing pride and glory to their school.

“I wish my team will be complete in time for UAAP this coming February.” -Luville Dato-on, Female Tracksters team captain

“To play together with teamwork.” -Janine Ong, Tigresses

“I want to be with my family in Rizal.” -Ana Paghubasan, Softbelles Season 71 Rookie of the Year

THEIR brilliant performance in off-season stints could only spell a bright future ahead for the UST Booters, come UAAP time.

After trumping De La Salle University in the University Games (UniGames) in Iloilo City, the UST Lady Booters slapped another heartbreaker on the Taft-based squad, 2-1, in the championship match of the Metro Manila Girls Football Association (MMGFA) last December 13, at the De La Salle Zobel football field.

Most Valuable Player Priscilla Rubio broke a 1-all deadlock through a vital corner kick with barely a minute left in the game, ultimately extending the Lady Booters’ reign as the defending champions. Last year, UST faced off with the same foe, with the same championship pride at stake.

“Good thing about the team is that there’s open communication,” UST Lady Booters coach Rozano Estrabon said. “The players listen to me and I listen to them.”

PLAYING without their ace striker, the UST Golden Booters relied on teamwork to trounce the University of the East (UE) Red Booters, 2-1, in the Ang Liga Football Cup last December 5 at the UST open field.

Louie Rodriguez picked up the slack for UST, which lost OJ Clariño to a partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that will likely sideline him until the start of UAAP hostilities.

“We need two more practice games before the UAAP and hopefully Clariño would recover from his partial ACL injury,” coach Marjo Allado said.

Taking advantage of their home court, the Golden Booters broke the ice early when Rodriguez scored a dagger at the 10th minute of the game.

But after several failed attempts and crosses, UE’s Fitch Arboleda evened the match at one-apiece at the 44th minute via a penalty kick that penetrated UST goalkeeper Lee Johnson’s defense.

THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters and the College of Commerce settled with a draw at two points apiece in their Thomasian Goodwill Men’s Football Games match at the UST open field last December 9.

Commerce led early courtesy of Joseph Masinsin’s goal just 13 minutes into the game to take a 1-0 lead.

Artlets’ John Asiddao broke a 30-minute scoring drought with a goal in the 60th minute, followed by another one by teammate Hadi Rushdy two minutes later. Suddenly, the Artlets squad was up, 2-1.

After a series of crucial substitutions, Commerce team captain Johanne Sibug capitalized on the absence of Artlets’ key starters, scoring on the last 15 minutes to level the match at 2-all.

“Commerce could have won but (the players) relaxed,” said Commerce coach and Golden Booter Christian de Juan, who led the team to a 2-1 victory in their previous game against the College of Nursing last December 3.

IN THE END, it all boiled down to who had the most experience.

Bolstered by a veteran crew, the UST Lady Spikers prevailed over the Adamson University Lady Falcons, 23-25, 25-12, 27-25, 25-19, en route to clinching their fifth championship in the finals match of the sixth Shakey’s V-League, last December 1 at the San Juan Arena.

“Their performance was a little inconsistent. But the players have the experience that brought us to the championship,” coach Cesael delos Santos said.

THE LADY Booters barely broke a sweat in nailing their fifth straight win in the Metro Manila Girls’ Football Association, crushing the Alumnae Football Club (AFC), 3-1, at the De La Salle-Zobel field in San Juan last November 22.

UST initially had to deal with AFC’s stone-wall defense until Mary Ignacio came through with consecutive goals in the 27th and 33rd minutes for an early 2-0 lead.

In the second half, coach Rozano Estrabon experimented on an entirely new lineup that immediately paid dividends. Defensive player Jovelyn Artillaga proved her versatility as she sank a goal off an Aprilyn Ramos pass in the 74th minute of the game to up the lead to 3-0.

The AFC would have walked home scoreless if not for a goal in the 81st minute to end the game at 3-1.

THE UST Tracksters stood out against premium athletes nationwide, copping a total of nine gold medals in the 14th University Games (Unigames) at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City from October 24 to 31.

The Female Tracksters led the medal haul with seven gold medals in 13 events to outshine perennial contenders Far Eastern University and Ateneo De Manila University that clinched four and two gold medals, respectively.

“Most of the UST players were from Iloilo so it was a challenge for them to perform well,” coach Manny Calipes said.

“We had a deal that if they did well, they could have an extended vacation and they did just that.”

Rookie trackster Serenata Saluan clocked in at 2:11.20 minutes and 10:46.33 minutes in a dominating performance in the 800 and 3,000-meter runs, respectively.

HIGH LEAPING UST swingman Allein Maliksi reigned as the new “sultan of the slam” in the dunk contest side event of the UAAP-NCAA All-Star Games at the San Juan Arena last November 14.

The 6-foot-3 former University of Manila slinger and Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2009 Millennium Basketball League collected 46 points from the judges and was the only contestant who pulled off a thrilling jam in a single try.

Maliksi threw the ball from the left wing, drove baseline, and completed a reversed, 180-degree one-hander that sent the big San Juan crowd in a frenzy. He outslammed University of the East’s Kenneth Acibar, Jose Rizal University’s (JRU) Derrick Lopez, San Sebastian College’s Ronald Pascual, Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Russel Escoto, and Adamson University’s John Repique.

THE SIGHT of her running down the field can easily strike fear among her opponents, telling of this Lady Booter’s immense skills. But something else preoccupies the mind of 19-year-old Herlyn Mae Salmon—she dreams of becoming a cruise ship chef someday.

“I really want to become a chef and specialize on making desserts,” she admitted.

It was her grandmother who gave her invaluable secret recipes in cooking. Aside from that, she learned kitchen techniques by habitually watching cooking shows during her free time.

But despite this passion, Salmon did not consider throwing her football career to waste and remains bent on someday representing the country in international competitions, particularly in the South East Asian (SEA) Games.

The AB Asian Studies junior said he had always dreamed of becoming a member of the RP team, but the University would not allow her because it might interfere with her academics.

UST DOES not have a license to celebrate this early.

With the conclusion of the first chapter of UAAP Season 72, the España army cannot afford to be complacent if it aims to extend its reign at the top of the UAAP for the 12th straight year.

UST so far a 153 point aggregate, only 17 points shy of second-seeded De La Salle University (136 points). Ateneo de Manila University came off as a surprise third placer with 118 points after besting last year’s third-seeded team, University of the Philippines (UP).

Title defense had been elusive for UST as it was dethroned in three sporting events: men’s swimming, men’s table tennis, and women’s taekwondo.

UST also dropped from the top three seats in the women’s division of badminton, swimming and beach volleyball.