Tag: April 13, 2011

ALL HE wanted was the scholarship.

But John Paul Torres, the Season 73 MVP, has emerged as one of the cover stories of the Tiger Spikers’ unparalleled four-year reign.

“It was so unexpected. My decision to try out for the team [Tiger Spikers] was primarily because someone told me of the scholarship grant given to athletes when you got in,” the 21-year-old Torres said.

Volleyball was admittedly not a priority for this ace spiker who was once a lawn tennis varsity player at the E. Rodriguez High School for a year.

But fate had a different plan for him as he went on to become one of coach Emil Lontoc’s formidable wards.

IN THE end, loyalty was most important to this high school basketball superstar.

UAAP juniors MVP Kevin Ferrer has opted to stay with UST, ending months of speculation that he might play for another university in the seniors division.

Ferrer rejected juicy offers from defending champion Ateneo de Manila University and the Henry Sy-owned National University, saying “I want to be faithful and play for UST.”

“This is where I got recognized,” he said, adding that he was moved by his parents and supporters who urged him to stay with his alma mater, a basketball powerhouse especially in the 90s.

UST SWIMMERS flooded the medal board in the Ateneo Sprint Challenge with a 10-5-3 gold-silver-bronze haul during the competition held last March 13.

The Male Tigersharks dominated the pool with 204 points, which made up for their female counterparts’ lowly output of 94 points. Their combined 298 points placed the España-based tankers in third spot.

“It was a ‘fun meet’ with other schools that is why they opted to merge the points for both teams,” assistant coach Agustus Alcantara said in Filipino.

Host team Ateneo ruled the event with 358 points while Season 73 champion University of the Philippines placed second with 350 markers. De La Salle was fourth with 250 points.

THE TIGERS-LED Max Bond Super Glue Sumos rebounded from opening game jitters, blasting out the winless Café France squad, 83-62, for their first win in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA D-League) Foundation Cup at the Adamson University Gym last March 29.

The Sumos took an early 11-point lead, 17-6, as they banked on the scoring of Roel Hugnatan, an Asean Basketball League veteran.

They were clearly responding to the challenge of new coach Pido Jarencio, who admitted allowing the Sumos to have their way in the previous game.

“In the last game, I gave them the chance to follow what they wanted to happen,” Jarencio said. “Then I told them that this time, they had to listen to what I wanted [them] to do.”

THE UST TIGER Pack strayed from its usual tradition of celebrating the Thomasian athletes’ accomplishments by hosting a tribute dinner this year to 15 teams last March 26, held at the AMV College of Accountancy Auditorium.

The group of alumni athletes acknowledged the seven teams who have donned the championship trophies for UST in the recently concluded UAAP Season ’73, with which the España Army dominated by grabbing its 38th general championship title.

They group prepared the dinner in recognition of the glory that the various teams brought to their alma mater in the sport they played and also, as a tribute to the graduating players and to those who have played their final year in their respective team.