Tag: 2011

IF THE boys can do it, so can the girls.

After the Philippine Azkals’ single-handed rejuvenation of football in the country comes another squad seeking to make it’s own mark in regional competitions. And leading the “Malditas,” the national women’s team, are eight Thomasian booters.

Tapped to reinforce the 27-strong squad are Lady Booters Aiza Mondero, Jane Pacaña, and Jowe-Ann Barruga as midfielders, Zipporah Luna as goalkeeper, twin sisters Marie and Marice Magdolot and Joma Clemente as defensive stoppers, and striker Nikki Regalado.

Named so for their feisty attitude in the field, the Malditas will attempt to land a spot in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup this October in Laos, a crucial stepping stone for the World Cup.

UAAP defending champion UST Golden Sox succumbed to a more agile RP U-18 via mercy rule, 0-7, in an exhibition game last July 23 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“We were ‘off hitting’ that time,” said coach Jeffrey Santiago. “Our starters were not there in the diamond.”

Season 73 MVP Nikko Reyes, Best Pitcher Irvin Tuazon, and Gerald Mitra, who were expected to lead the fielding, were not able to play due to academic commitments.

“I actually let the new ones play,” said Santiago.

Waiting for one loose hit in the third base, Amber Plaza could have circled the bases in the fifth inning to register their first score, if not for the flyouts clubbed by three batters.

THE UST Tigresses remained undefeated in three games after surviving the Far Eastern University (FEU), 66-65, in their UAAP match-up at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City last July 24.

Mary Galicia won the game for UST after splitting her free throws on an unsportsmanlike foul, with a second left in the fourth quarter. The Tigresses earlier went ahead, 65-64, after Paula Bombeo scored on a drive with 2:35 minutes left in the game clock.

The Lady Tamaraws forced the fifth deadlock of the game via split charities by Marilourd Borja. They had a chance to take the lead following an offensive rebound, but UST stole the ball, forcing Borja to foul Galicia.

THE UST Golden Sox have recruited a top rookie, who is a veteran of major international tournaments.

At 15, Christian Mercado was a member of the RP Youth 15-16 team, which claimed the top spot in the Asia Pacific Baseball Tournament after defeating Indonesia at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last July 3.

The RP team defeated Indonesia via mercy rule, 10-0, to book a ticket in the World Little League Series in Maine, USA on August 14 to 21.

Although the national team bowed to Guam, 3-4, it was awarded a win-over-the-other and quotient-system advantage after Indonesia defeated Guam. Thus, the Philippines remained in contention in the single-round robin competition.

THE GOLDEN Booters stumbled against the University of the East, 0-1, in the Ang Liga Football Cup at the San Beda football field last July 23.

Tho Booters had several opportunities to score, only to be denied by UE’s tough defense. John Llaguno scored the lone goal of the game. UST now has a 0-1-1 win-loss-draw card.

Assistant coach Kim Versales blamed the loss on the players’ lack of sufficient preparation.

“The players have the skills, but still they lack blending and communication,” he said. “The bad weather also caused a lot of adjustments for the team, especially on how they pass and kick the ball.”

UST came close to an equalizer in the second half, but Fidel Kue’s attempt bounced off the upper post.

WINNING the UAAP overall crown has been quite a ‘habit’ for UST. But with other schools beefing up their lineups in the offseason, Tiger athletes cannot succumb to complacency or overconfidence. Whether they could lord it over the collegiate wars again this year will depend on the strength and character of individual teams.

Here’s the Varsitarian’s fearless forecast:

BADMINTON

Male Shuttlers
Last year: Champion
Prediction: Fifth place

The Male Shuttlers’ goal of a third straight title faces a hurdle after last season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Ariel Magnaye feathered out due to debarment.

Coach Noli Cajefe said Magnaye’s absence would apparently trigger some serious adjustments in both singles and doubles match-ups.

However, the España-based smashers are still hoping to gain a Final Four berth with help from veterans RJ Ormilla, Salvador Kapunan, and Renz Vivas.

This season, Cajefe said the squad will parade a new gameplan: the development of doubles match-up in order to fill the single match-ups’ deficiencies.

HE WAS the first to cross the finish line and bested thousands of participants. But unlike in any sporting event, he acquired a plum far beyond cash or a luminous trophy.

More than chasing the first prize, Roger Denolo joins marathons so that he will get a chance to hone his skills as one of UST’s prized trackster.

“We joined ‘fun runs’ to condition our bodies and test our capabilities,” he said in Filipino.

Denolo topped the 10-kilometer category of the 2011 Merrell Run and bagged home an P8, 000 prize money defeating robust Kenyan runners.

“I didn’t expect that I will beat my Kenyan opponent who only placed second,” said Denolo, whose attempts to ascend in an uphill trail stumbled ten times.

GONE are the three of the school’s most accomplished coaches, but UST is moving on.

In fact new coaches Odjie Mamon (women’s volleyball, Chris Cantonjos (women’s basketball) and Gabby Remigio (tennis) have vowed to continue UST’s winning tradition.

Mamon, former coach of the national women’s team begun implementing what he called his “open secret” strategy—the “P<S<B (passing is greater than serving is greater than blocking) formula. It meant to prove the Lady Spikers’ basic volleyball skills and, eventually, improve their offensive plays.

“I want to bond and discipline the team,” Mamon said. “With the new system I will layout a new foundation, we have a vision and I want everything to be standardized.”

WITH the conflicts of the past now over, the Tigresses are focused on the bottomline-win their first championship since 2006.

Thanks to a new coaching staff led by Chris Cantonjos, the team hopes to regain the title by playing more aggressive offense and especially defense.

“Past is past. Right now, we have set aside our internal conflicts to develop the team’s offensive and defensive plays,” top player Mary Laud said in Filipino.

With the Tigresses’ lineup still intact, Laud, together with inside players Paula Jean Bombeo and Chris Silva, will orchestrate their notorious run-and-gun play, but with more physicality in the post.

THE SHAKEY’S V-League can wait.

The Lady Spikers have opted to skip the second installment of the tournament which will kick off this July 3.New head coach Odjie Mamon said the team was still adjusting to his new system and they did not get an official invitation to the tournament anyway.

Mamon, who replaced coach Cesael Delos Santos, preferred that his wards focus on their training to ensure that they would be ready for the UAAP.

He said players which could compromise their eligibility in the UAAP could not afford to miss classes because of the tight V-League schedule.

“I don’t want to sacrifice each player’s eligibility since V-League is demanding when it comes to time,” he explained.