Tag: June 18

Having transformed the Tigresses into a defensive team, coach Chris Cantonjos will now bank on their offensive firepower especially with the inclusion of Palarong Pambansa standouts.

The Tigresses are seeking to improve their third-place finish last UAAP season with improved offensive and defensive sets. Much is also expected of rookies Josele Jumawan, Melchar Jerez, Demi Villanueva, and Shanda Anies.

“I want them to play hard every time and to treat every game as though it’s the championship—no let-ups,” Cantonjos said.

The Tigresses will be without last year’s dependable cagebelles Paula Bombeo, Christy Silva, and Rina Laud who have all exhausted their playing years.

THREE members of the Golden Sox will lead the Tanauan City Baseball Team in the Asia Pacific Senior League Baseball Tournament from July 4 to 10 in Guam.

Team captain Christian Mercado, Max Andrew Mercado, and Kimferly Jhon Lopez will help the squad defend its crown against top-caliber teams such as those from Indonesia, Guam, and Saipan.

“Each of us will try to defend our title by doing our best in order to win,” said Mercado, who, as a rookie, led Tanauan to its first championship last year. “I know that the team has more to show in our future battles.” HEDRIX AR-AR C. CABALLE

THOMASIAN Jins accounted for two of the three medals won by the Philippine national team in the World University Taekwondo Championships in Pocheon, South Korea last May 25 to 30.

Marvin Gabriel, who also nabbed a gold medal in the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Vietnam last May 11, settled for a bronze medal in the poomsae (forms) men’s individual category, besting competitions from 17 other countries. Shaneen Sia also bagged a bronze in the women’s team category.

Anjelay Pelaez of San Beda College completed the national team’s three-medal haul, bagging a silver medal in the women’s individual category.

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.

DE LA SALLE University isn’t alone in the history books anymore.

The Lady Spikers duplicated the Lady Archers’ historic three-peat run in the V-League by trouncing the San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) Lady Stags in Game 3 of their epic four-setter clash at The Arena in San Juan last May 27.

UST snatched its sixth crown in seven seasons in dominating fashion by subduing a tough SSC-R squad in four sets, 25-20, 25-27, 25-12, 25-15.

“I am so happy because we have been working hard for this [championship]. I always tell them [the Lady Spikers] to be patient and keep focused to reach our goal,” a jubilant coach Cesael de los Santos said. “We are doing this to make the people, especially the fans, happy.”

The Lady Spikers controlled the tempo of the fourth set, anchored on kills from Mary Jean Balse, and consistent blocking from Rhea Dimaculangan and Denise Santiago.

UST struggled in the opening canto, allowing the Lady Stags to get the edge early, 2-5. But the opponents’ errors paved the way for UST to take the steering wheel, 9-7.

REIGNING UAAP champions UST Softbelles battered the heavily-favored Rizal Technological University (RTU) Lady Thunders, 3-1, to clinch the women’s crown in the Cebuana Lhuillier-National Softball Open last May 7, at Melvin Jones Park in Baguio city.

UST alumna and RP Blu Girl Esmeralda Tayag played the heroine’s role in the fifth inning when her run batted in (RBI) single gave UST the marginal point after a scoreless truce in the first four frames.
Tournament MVP Corazon Sobere immediately followed suit, propelling Season 72 Best Hitter Lani Sarmiento and Nelia Lara to home base in the sixth.

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.