Tag: 2012

WITH the overall championship title at stake, UST Fencers kept the University within striking distance from De La Salle University as they scored decent finishes in the UAAP tournament at the PhilSports Arena Pasig from Dec. 11 to 14.

A cellar-dweller last season, the Lady Fencers improved to second place behind six-time champion University of the East. Haniel Abella’s gold medal in the women’s epee individual category led UST.

The quartet of Donita Navarro, Kimberly Camahalan, Joanna Marie Guevarra, and Maylene Pailma finished second in the women’s sabre team category. Abella also teamed up with Kristine Daena Paraso, Dyrem Penaflor, and Christine Alegria to claim the bronze medal in women’s epee.

MIDWAY in the first round, the UST Booters remained in search of cruise control of their rough UAAP football sailing.

The Golden Booters could not overcome a relentless De La Salle University, 1-3, to level their record to 2-2 in the tournament at the Ocampo field in Ateneo de Manil University last Dec. 13.

At the 79th minute, Green Archer David Angelo Diamante caught the Golden Booters off guard to score his second goal and wrap up the match at 3-1.

Ronald Lagrimas converted UST's lone goal at the 17th mark off a short pass from returning Golden Booter Jejomar Valdez to take an early lead in the first half, 1-0.

EVEN if the team failed to win the championship, coach Manny Calipes was satisfied with the performance of the UST Tracksters, who finished second and third in the UAAP track and field tournament at the Philippine Sports Complex from Dec. 4 to 7.

"We achieved what we came here for, ‘yung makadikit sa general championship," coach Manny Calipes said, referring to the UAAP overall race where UST trails De La Salle University after the first semester.

“From eight points, nabawasan ng apat so lima na lang ang lamang ng La Salle. At least we have done our job. ‘Yung ibang teams naman ang magtrabaho.”

THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters (Artlets) pummeled the Faculty of Engineering to claim the men’s basketball crown, while the College of Commerce and Business Administration clinched its women’s title during the Thomasian Goodwill Games at the Quadricentennial Pavilion last Dec. 12.

The Artlets, who also swept the Engineering team in the 2007 Finals, erected a 26-point advantage, 70-44, in the payoff period to pull away for good. Engineering was competitive only in the opening quarter, and was dominated by the Artlets for the rest of the game.

THE UST Softbelles outlasted the University of the Philippines (UP), 8-6, in the UAAP softball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last Dec. 12.

Jocelyn Ungsod hit three RBI (Runs Batted In) in the first two innings as the Softbelles built an early 6-0 lead.

UP sluggers tallied three straight runs in the third frame courtesy of Denise Cruz, Alex Zuluaga, and Hashimoto to narrow the gap, 5-6.

But UST outfielders Kristine Lacupa and Francine Areglado scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, to ensure the victory for the Softbelles, who now have a 2-1 win-loss card.

“We had a one big inning at the start of the game. The players delivered well,” said coach Sandy Barredo.

THOUGH only 5’4” tall, Thomasian martial artist Prince Andreen Zipagan stood out and topped all his events for the Philippines in the 2nd International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) World Shoto Cup Karate Championships last Nov. 8 to 11.

Zipagan powered the national team, which bagged 16 gold, 14 silver, and eight bronze medals in the international event.

The pint-sized Zipagan, a freshman from the AMV-College of Accountancy, took the limelight after taking home four gold medals in four categories.

He stomped his class in the 16-17 boys’ individual kata (form) after blanking a much taller Canadian opponent in Victor So, 2-0.

THE GROWLING Tigers got a measure of revenge after edging UAAP champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, 81-76, to claim their first title in the tough Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) at the Ynares Sports Arena last Dec. 7.

The Tigers withstood a furious late-game rally in the rubber match through the efforts of PCCL MVP Jeric Teng and sophomore Kevin Ferrer. Teng scored 13 of his 22 points in the final quarter, while Ferrer ensured the victory with a key basket in the dying seconds. He finished with 22 points and nine boards.

With the win, the Tigers avenged their bitter loss to the Blue Eagles, who swept them in the UAAP Finals last October.

SEPERATED by a mere goal from last season’s championship, Season 74 runner-up UST Golden Booters will play this season sans nine of last year’s 11 starters.

The España-based skippers, who were eked by reigning champions University of the Philippines in last season’s finals match with a 0-1 tally, lost six players to academic deficiencies while the other three decided to go home to their provinces.

Starting goalkeeper Ramon Burigas, defenders Noel Francisco, Nicanor Palacio, and Darel Regula along with midfielder Fraymund Bito-On and striker Fidel Kue, will all miss action this season due to academic deficiencies.

UST WENT home with a gold and three bronze medals in the 17th Sandugo University Games (UniGames) at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City last Oct. 22-28.

The undefeated Male Tennisters gave UST its lone championship after dethroning the National University. Their female counterparts were tied at third spot with the Lady Tennisters of the University of the Philippines.

“The UniGames was a success not only because we won, but also because we got to know what we needed to work on to prepare ourselves in the coming second semester of the UAAP,” lawn tennis coach Gabby Remegio said.

It was an unlikely ending for the Lady Tracksters as they slid from second to third place this year. The Male Tracksters failed to enter the Top 3.

UST HAS found itself behind De La Salle University in the race for the UAAP general championship at the end of the first semester.

The 39-time champion is trailing La Salle, a traditional UAAP powerhouse as well, by eight points. In seven sporting events, UST recorded five titles and two runner-up finishes to account for 144 points behind La Salle’s 152. The University of the Philippines (UP) came in third with 108 points.

“We’re not really hungry for the [UAAP general championship] but it comes naturally to us,” said Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., director of Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, noting that UST had trailed in the first semester before.