Tag: 2013

IN A GENUINE act of brotherhood between Dominican schools, the UST Growling Tigers and Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights played in a charity game for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Yolanda at the Blessed Antonio Varona Gym on the Letran campus last Nov. 20.

The Knights survived UST in a thriller, 80-79, via Kevin Buenaflor’s buzzer-beating putback.

Letran controlled most of the game leading by as much as 19 points, 58-39, as guard Mark Cruz waxed hot from long range late in the third quarter.

But the Tigers went on a furious run in the fourth period, capped by a Kevin Ferrer slam, to cut the deficit to two, 67-69.

WHO SAID sports and academics can’t mix?

Lady Spikers Maria Loren Josephine Lantin, a freshman student of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and Jessy Laine De Leon, a third year Dean’s lister from the College of Architecture, have proven that student-athletes could actually excel in both fields.

If there were a secret to juggling undergraduate studies, sports and eventually pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a doctor, for Lantin, it’s time management.

“I really wanted to become a doctor when I was younger while at the same time, I love playing volleyball. So I asked myself, why not do them both?” the BS Biology graduate said.

THIS rookie played like a true veteran.

Franz Marquez, a freshman student from the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA), almost singlehandedly carried the Male Tigersharks to another fourth-place finish in the UAAP swimming tournament at the Trace College Aquatic Center in Los Baños, Laguna last Sept. 19 to 22.

The 18-year-old tanker collected one gold (100-m breastroke), four silvers (200-m individual medley, 200-m breaststroke, 400-m freestyle and 400-m individual medley) and a bronze medal (200-m butterfly), contributing heavily to the team’s 175-point output in the four-day competition. The men’s team ended up with one gold, five silvers and two bronze medals.

THE UST Golden Sox demolished Bulacan State University (BulSU), 15-2, in the Philippine Sports Commission Chairman’s Baseball Classic tournament at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last Nov. 23.

The España-based sluggers employed excellent defense and pitching to outscore BulSU and deny them of a chance to score in most of the innings.

The UST squad shook off a jittery 1-1 start in the first inning and went on a roll in the second, 5-1.

Ahead by four points, the Golden Sox fought complacency and denied the Malolos-based sluggers of a point on top of the third inning.

Bernardo Siaotong extended UST’s lead to five via a left field hit that scored a run batted in (RBI) at the bottom of the third frame.

THE UST Lady Booters maintained composure until the final whistle as they blanked De La Salle University, 1-0, in the UAAP women’s football tournament at the Far Eastern University-Diliman field last Nov. 27.

Capitalizing on a clearing error by a La Salle defender, UST striker Marice Magdolot deflected the ball and sent it straight to the goal in the 68th minute.

“We’ve had lots of chances [to score] so it’s good that she finally converted,” said JR Judal, an Asian Studies alumnus who took over coaching duties from Bon Estrabon in August.

La Salle kept trying, challenging the Lady Booters’ defense with a goal attempt in stoppage time.

WITH the Filipino crowd behind her, Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit pocketed the final ball and made history anew.

Confetti fell and cheers poured as Amit pulled off a come-from-behind 10-7 victory to upset English poolshark Kelly Fisher and win the Yalin Women’s World 10-ball Championship at the Resorts World Manila last Nov. 4.

The Alfredo M. Velayo-College of Accountancy alumna bested 48 other professional billiard players from 20 countries to register her second 10-ball world title. She was the first female Filipino cue artist to win the world championship in 2009.

Down 1-2 early in the Finals, Amit crawled back to regain a 7-6 lead against the 35-year-old Fisher. But Fisher was able to come back and take the 14th rack to tie the match, 7-all.

TWO KEY Growling Tigers will soon see action in the professional ranks.

Last season's team captain Jeric Teng and his Season 75 predecessor, Jeric Fortuna, were the 12th and 14th picks, respectively, in the Philippine Baskeball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft last Nov. 3 at Robinsons Place Manila.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters acquired the 6'2” Teng, who will be playing alongside Chris Tiu and 2011 PBA Rookie of the Year Paul Lee.

Teng said he isn’t having a hard time adjusting since he’s already familiar with some of his teammates.

“[The team] really welcomed me. [Chris] Tiu and TY Tang are fellow Xavierians and Jervy Cruz is a fellow Thomasian so I really feel at home with the team,” the 6’2” Gunslinger said.

IN WHAT could be a preview of UAAP’s second round action, the UST contingent turned in a dominant performance, bagging four gold medals and two silver medals in the 18th Philippine University Games held at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod last Oct. 22 to 28.

Leading the gold-medal winners were the Lady Spikers, who turned back Far Eastern University (FEU) in a hard-fought 25-13, 10-25, 14-25, 25-14, 15-8 victory in the Finals.

Head coach Odgie Mamon admitted that the victory was unexpected.

The Lady Spikers found themselves trailing, two sets to one, in the game, but Mamon kept on encouraging his players.

UST ATHLETES brought home medals in the Kyorugi division of the 4th Asian University Taekwondo Championships held in South Korea last Nov. 4.

UAAP Season 75 Athlete of the Year and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Christian Al Dela Cruz clinched the silver medal in the welterweight division while Lady Jin alumna Jade Zafra also placed second in the featherweight division.

Season 76 MVP Abby Cham (bantamweight), teammate Jane Narra (welterweight), and alumni Gershon Bautista (featherweight) and Paul Romero (bantamweight) copped bronze medals in their respective weight categories.

THE GROWLING Tigers' remarkable run in UAAP Season 76 ended with a 69-71 overtime loss to the De La Salle Green Archers, who claimed the men's basketball title at the Mall of Asia Arena last Oct. 12.

It marked the second straight season wherein the Tigers missed what could have been their first title since 2006. But unlike last year's match against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, this year's series against the Archers had the makings of a classic.