Tag: May 13, 2015

UST REGAINED its rightful spot in the UAAP, winning a record 40th general championship.

The Tigers collected a total of five championships and finished with 283 points, just three points ahead of two-time champion De La Salle University, which posted 280 markers. The University of the Philippines finished third with 236 points.

UST was poised to regain the overall title after the first semester events, leading La Salle, 152-147. But the Tigers lost ground after the football team and women’s squads volleyball and chess faltered.

UST ALMOST fell short of bagging the UAAP overall title for the third straight season until the Tiger Softbelles saved the day.

The school thus captured its 40th UAAP general championship, which almost slipped away due to De La Salle University's strong performance. La Salle worked its way up the ladder with three of its teams reaching the finals of their respective events.

Not if the Tiger Softbelles could help it.

As the last UST team playing, they had immense pressure on their shoulders. Things were not looking great for them at the beginning of the second round after they fell to sixth place with a 3-5 win-loss record. La Salle's softball team was sitting comfortably in second place with a 6-2 card.

DESPITE the lack of private benefactors, UST still provides top-of-the-line equipment, housing and respectable monthly allowances for its student-athletes.

As far as budget is concerned, many UST coaches see no problem when it comes to the support their respective squads receive.

Golden Booters head coach Marjo Allado said there was no need for UST to offer money to student-athletes during recruitment because the school already offers a lot of benefits.

SOMETIMES letting go leads to better opportunities.

Steven Anotado is probably thankful that swimming did not work out for him early. He found his niche in football and emerged as the top striker for the UST Golden Booters this year.

“From Grade 1 to 3, I and my twin brother (were into) swimming but I could not win and reach the regional meet and Palarong Pambansa so I shifted to football,” Anotado told the Varsitarian.

Influenced by his cousin, Anotado, a second-year Sports and Wellness Management student, transferred to football when he was in Grade 4 but failed to qualify for his school’s football team in North Cotabato.

FOR MANY years, UST has consistently produced Philippine team-calibre players.

This summer, three Thomasian athletes will be donning the national colors in upcoming international events.

Growling Tiger Kevin Ferrer will suit up for the Sinag Pilipinas basketball squad scheduled to see action in the Southeast Asian Games in June in Singapore.

Meanwhile, UAAP Season 77 Best Blocker Marivic Meneses and Rookie of the Year EJ Laure were part of a Philippine team that defied expectations and snagged seventh place in the Asian Women’s Under-23 Volleyball Championships last May 1 to 9.