Tag: 2010

ONE OF UST’s best volleybelles is also its top cheerleader.

The contributions of 20-year-old Angeli Tabaquero are not limited to her killer plays. They’re palpable also whenever she gives teammates—exhausted and probably disheartened—that extra push only a veteran spiker like her could provide.

Images of Tabaquero running (actually jumping) all around the court after a successful rally have become quite common in UAAP replays.

“It’s a big factor that Angeli has her high spirits inside the court,” said coach Cesael Delos Santos. “As a senior player, she helps the team to relax and enjoy the game.”

UST JUNIOR Paddler Christian Abendan edged out Walden Ledesma of Xavier School, 3-1, to rule the boys’ under-17 division in the 12th STIGA-UP Chancellor’s Cup at the SM North EDSA-Annex last April 6 to 10.

Abendan smashed his way to the top against Ledesma who had a rigorous training in China before the tournament.

With his fierce third-ball kills, deadly spin and hard-chop service, Abendan toyed with Ledesma who apparently struggled in reading the UST paddlers’ hits.

“I just stuck to the game plan,”  Abendan said.

The Lady Spikers solidified their bid to keep their Shakey’s V-League title by trouncing the Southwestern University (SWU) Lady Cobras, 25-12, 25-18, 25-20, during their match at The Arena in San Juan last April 15.

The victory tied UST with the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Lady Stags with identical 2-0 win-loss cards at the top of the tournament’s Bracket A.

“Their performance was okay although not as good as I expected, but I was satisfied. It just so happened that some players got off their rhythm,” coach Cesael de los Santos said.

Not even SWU guest player Lasungnern Piyatida, a Thai national team heavyweight, could find a remedy for the Lady Cobras’ porous defense, underscored by reception errors and free balls.

In the opening set, the España-based squad capitalized on the attacking errors of the Lady Cobras to spark an early 6-0 run for an 8-2 score.

TOP UST Judokas paraded their skills and dominated the 2010 National Judo Individual Championships last April 17-19 at the De La Salle University Enrique M. Razon Sports Complex.

Representing various regions of the country, the España-based judokas amassed a 9-3-2 gold-silver-bronze medal tally.

UST’s new recruit Setsuko Ando reaped three gold medals—two in the -70 kg class (white belt and juniors) and one in the open weight division, defeating all regional champions from different divisions.

Pinning down Zamboanga representative Ainee Potenciano, Lady Judoka Jewel de Castro scored an ippon (whole point) barely 28 seconds into the match to ace the -63 kg division.

JOGGERS, retirees and health enthusiasts got into the groove as the UST Joggers and Wellness Association Incorporated conducted the second “USTep to Wellness” program last April 10 and 17 at the UST Plaza Mayor grounds.

Participants, some of which were senior citizens, shuffled between aerobics and “aero-dance” moves led by their fitness instructor Josie Domosmog.

“The aerobics that I taught to the members aims to condition the mind and body,” Domosmog said. 

The instructor also incorporated some ballroom dance into the routine like the cha-cha on the first day of the program and the ‘LA Walk’ on the second day. Tai-chi exercises were also given in the session last April 10.

UAAP championships seem to be a dime a dozen for UST.

Emerging as general champions for the twelfth straight year, the Tigers remain unbeaten, defending UST territory and claiming its 37th title since the league’s conception in 1938.

“We have been general champions all these years because of the athletes. They are the ones we should thank because without them, we are not here,” said Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.

The España squad painted the season black and gold after amassing 305 points leaving perennial title contenders De La Salle University and host Far Eastern University (FEU) way behind with 252 and 229, at second and third place, respectively.

THE SO-CALLED dark horse of Season 72, the Golden Booters barged into the finals but fell short of the championship after stumbling against Far Eastern University in a winner-take-all match at the Ateneo Erechun Field last February 28.

The Booters saw their miracle run end in a 0-1 heartbreaker against FEU, which improved on its runner-up finish last season. But the finals appearance was a feat in itself for UST, considering that it placed an embarrassing fourth last year.

The Lady Booters lost their title, 0-1, against De La Salle University, the team they beat in last season’s finals.

UNLUCKY “13” casted its dry spell on the UST Male Woodpushers’ 13th round skirmish at the boards against De La Salle University, relegating them to third place at the end of the Season 72 chess tournament at the UST Gym last February 28.

The Woodpushers’ 0.5-3.5 loss to La Salle last February 21, 5-3.5, at the UST-Tan Yan Kee Student Center threw away a do-or-die battle for the top spot against defending champions Far Eastern University (FEU), when FEU posted a 4.5 point lead in aggregate markers, 38.5 against UST’s 34-point output.

UST’s Joey Florendo gained a half-point for UST in board one after drawing with Paolo Bautista after 47 moves.

ARE UST athletes—other than members of the basketball team—being properly taken care of?

Interns from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) have come forward to complain about inadequate medical supplies and other game essentials made available to other varsity teams by the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA).

Annie Grace Laygo, who is assigned to the women’s volleyball squad, said she and other interns often had to shell out their own money to cover basic items such as plastic strips, pain relievers, ointments, and even ice. “I spent P35 on ice every practice,” she complained.

IT WAS a dream half a century in the making.

But everything was worth the wait as the UST Softbelles finally ended an era of fruitless campaigns after unseating defending champions Adamson University, in an 8-3 pre-valentine brawl last February 13 at the UST open field. This was the team’s first ever championship tiara in UAAP softball history since the league’s conception in 1953.

A tournament sweep merits an automatic championship and as UST bulldozed the competition with a 10-0 slate, not even the defending champions stood on the way of their softball crown.

“The jinx is over and there’s no more curse,” said the teary-eyed coach Sandy Barredo. “I just told them to focus on the game and not to be pressured.”