Tag: 2009

ANGELI Tabaquero returned to UST’s fold with a bang, steering the squad against the Lyceum University of the Philippines Lady Pirates, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19, for its third straight win at the ongoing Shakey’s V-League last October 16 at the Blue Eagle gym.

With the victory, the Lady Spikers remained on top of the standings with a 3-0 win-loss record, boosting their bid for back-to-back titles.

“This is just the beginning. I don’t want to think of the finals yet. At this moment, we continue preparing for every match.

“We still need to make a few adjustments in the team,” head coach Cesael delos Santos said.
UST dominated much of the opening set until the Lady Pirates managed to tie at 18-apiece. But consecutive kills and back-to-back service aces from Tabaquero regained the lead for UST, 24-19. Team captain Aiza Maizo ended the set with a sneaky drop over the outstretched arms of Lyceum blockers, 25-20.

THE COLLEGE of Commerce scored a 7-0 sweep of the 2009 Thomasian Goodwill Men’s Volleyball Games, capped by a 3-1 win victory over the Ecclesiastical Faculties last Oct. 8 at the UST gym.

MVP Micheal Manalang and Best Receiver Ken Ucang led the charge in the first set, scoring almost at will en route to a 25-19 finish.

The seminarians made a few adjustments on defense, mainly through improved blocking, but Commerce showed better consistency and poise to snatch the second set, 25-22. The next set was pretty much the same story as Commerce registered a 25-21 win.

The College of Commerce’s dominating performance in the tournament was also shown in the individual awards. Glenn Mark Tiburcio claimed the “Best Libero” award while Francis Quesada went home with the “Best Faculty Manager” plum.

AFTER two years of failed attempts, the UST Male Shuttlers finally regained the championship throne after outsmashing De La Salle University, 3-2, in their finals match at the Rizal Badminton Hall last September 19.

“It was a sweet victory because from being number four (in the elimination round), we ended up as champions,” coach Noli Cajefe said.

A battle between brothers Paolo Dawal of UST and Rodel Dawal of La Salle began the hostilities.

UST drew first blood with Paolo subduing his elder brother, 21-17, 21-11.

But La Salle exacted vengeance courtesy of Kelvin Tim Ang, who mauled UST’s Salvador Kapunan in three sets, 7-21, 21-16, 18-21.

The Taft-based crew took the lead when Bryan Chan and Mike Paclibar stunned UST’s Kapunan and RJ Ormilla, 16-21, 21-17, 20-22.

DESPITE a strong fourth quarter, the UST Tigresses still fell short against defending champions Far Eastern University, succumbing to a 71-74 defeat last September 19 at the San Juan Arena.

The España-based cagebelles pumped in 25 points in the fourth canto, accentuated by a trey from Juvelyn Andaya with four minutes in the clock, to come back from a 17-point deficit. UST came within two points, 71-73, with less than two minutes left in the game, but FEU kept its poise.

Tamaraw Jocy Positos nailed a charity shot off a foul from Tigress Mary Joy Galicia nine seconds left, to give the Lady Tams a three-point cushion and seal the win. The loss dropped the Tigresses to the fourth spot.

“It was too late when the Tigresses realized that they needed to work harder,” Tigresses coach Julie Amos said. “But they willingly fought until the last second.”

THE TRAUMA of losing proved to be her driving force.

Feeling the bitter pangs of defeat at a tender age proved to be life-changing experience for Jewel Ann De Castro. The promising judoka upstart, who was then barely six-years-old, had to face against heavier and older foes twice her age. As was expected, De Castro received a drubbing from her foes in what was supposed to be her debut match – a “baptism of fire” to the world of Judo.

But rather than sulk, the young De Castro turned this negative experience into a positive one by using it as the motivating factor to spark a tougher, more intensive training regimen. Since then, her will to keep improving has catapulted her to great heights, allowing her to conquer both the national and international scene.

THE UST TIGRESSES managed to dodge a bullet this time, falling prey to the De La Salle University Lady Archers in a “non-bearing” game.

The team suffered from poor-ball handling skills which killed its defense, enabling the De La Salle University Lady Archers to escape with a 67-73 squeaker last September 13 at the San Juan Arena.

“I told them to just play their game since this is a ‘non-bearing’ game for us. I saw the willingness but we had crucial passing errors,” coach Julie Amos said.

UST came within just three, 65-68, as Tigress Ann Leonardo shot perfect from the stripe off a foul with 1:13 remaining in the game. However, Lady Archer Eileen Urieta sunk a three with only 49 ticks left, followed up with a charity shot from Angeli Glorianni that slammed the door on UST’s catch-up attempt.

THE UST Male Shuttlers moved closer to the UAAP crown after trouncing Ateneo in their semifinals duel, 4-1, last September 13 at the Rizal Badminton Hall.

National team player RJ Ormilla had a relatively easy time in the first singles match against Paolo Sunga, 21-18, 21-16.

But Ateneo’s Antonino Gadi came to his teammates’ rescue, hammering Paulo Dawal, 21-10, 21-9, to force a deadlock at 1-all.

The tandem of RJ Ormilla and Salvador Kapunan avenged the loss, pulverizing Antonino Gadi and Raphael Sanchez, 21-15, 21-19.

UST’s Dawal and Francis Magnaye out-smashed Ateneo’s Sunga and Orville Yu, 21-19, 15-21, 21-18, in the second doubles match. Kapunan was awarded the next match via default.

“I said to them before that if they gave their best shot, we could make it to the finals. And that’s what they did in this game,” Coach Noli Cajefe exclaimed.

INCONSISTENCY on both ends of the floor plagued the UST Golden Booters in their losing effort against Laos, 3-2, in the continuation of Ang Liga Football Cup at the San Beda College field last Aug. 30.

With the loss, the Booters dropped to a 2-0-2 win-draw-loss card.
“What happened in the game were basic errors,” coach Marjo Allado said. “But we train every day to make up for the losses in preparation for the UAAP.”

From the get-go, the Booters’ defense collapsed, giving Laos’ Rodolfo Villanueva a clear shot at the goal at the fourth minute of the game to take the lead at 1-0.

MULING ipinamalas ng UST Tigresses ang kanilang bangis nang mabihag nila sa pangalawang pagkakataon ang University of the East (UE) Amazons, 96-69, noong Agosto 19 sa Far Eastern University Gymnasium. Dahil sa panalo, nasa ikaapat na puwesto ang koponan tangan ang 5-4 win-loss record.

Agad na rumatsada ang mga Tigresses nang magpasiklab ng 12-2 run sina Lore Rivera, Ann Leonardo, Katrina Fermin at Rina Laud sa kalagitnaan ng unang yugto at iniwang nakapako ang UE sa dalawang puntos, 16-2.

Sinubukang pigilan nina Amazons Dianne Ventura at Nerissa Cabrera ang paglobo ng lamang ng UST subalit patuloy ang pagkaripas ng mga Tigresses hanggang sa matapos ang unang kanto, 23-10. Unti-unting nanghina ang opensa ng mga Amazons dulot ng ilang ulit na pag-agaw ng bola ng UST na nagtatak ng 50-25 karta sa first half.

MATAPOS mabigong iuwi ang korona ng dalawang beses, paano pa kaya mapapatunayan ng Salinngawi Dance Troupe na karapatdapat itong tanghaling hari ng dancefloor sa nalalapit na UAAP Season 72 Cheerdance Competition?

Inamin ng pangulo ng Salinggawi na si Sky Bautista na nagkulang ang pangkat sa teknikal na aspekto noong nakaraang taon, kaya’t pumangalawa lamang ito sa University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad.

Aminado siyang mas maganda ang konsepto at tema ng
pagtatanghal ng UP.

“Sa criteria noong nakaraang taon, mas binigyang diin ang teknikal na aspeto kaysa dance set. At nasa dance ang kalakasan ng Salinggawi,” sabi ni Bautista. “Kaya ngayon, pinag-iigihan namin ang aming mga kahinaan.”

Puspusan na ang paghahanda ng Salinggawi upang mabawi ang korona mula sa kanilang mortal na katunggali. Buong taong subsob sa pagsasanay ang mga kasapi ng nine-time UAAP Cheerdance Champion, lalo na ngayong papalapit na ang kompetisyon.