Tag: No. 8

UST WAS in unfamiliar territory heading into the second half of the UAAP season. It is trailing De La Salle University by eight points, 144-152, in the race for the general championship. If there’s a school that could snap UST string of 14 straight UAAP titles, it would be La Salle.

That’s why a lot is at stake in second semester competitions. Our predictions:

Athletics

Male Tracksters

The team will field a roster equally divided between veterans and rookies. It is capable of pulling off a surprise so we won’t be surprised if they finish third.

Female Tracksters

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.

THE TIGER Cubs went cold in second half and yielded to NCAA Juniors’ runner-up San Sebastian Golden Staglets, 61-82, in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship at the Chiang Kai-shek College last Nov. 25.

With the absence of reliable scorers Prince Martin, Nicko Bahia and big man Vaughn Soriano, Isaiah Dandan steered the Cubs with game-high 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Down by 19 points in the fourth quarter, Tiger Cub Paulo Corre completed a three-point play to cut the lead to 16, 51-67

But a disoriented offense and defense foiled the squad’s comeback efforts, allowing San Sebastian’s Alfren Gayosa and Rhanzel Yong to ignite an 8-0 run and jack up the lead, 75-51.

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.

PLAYERS come and go, but with their unparalleled discipline and commitment, these two Tigers will be missed.

For former Growling Tigers team captain Jeric Fortuna and forward Melo Afuang, everything was about basketball and academics, nothing more.

“Hindi sila mabisyong mga bata, wala kang maririnig na may kalokohang ginagawa,” Jarencio said.

The dedication helped bring them to greater heights. Fortuna and Afuang made three Final Four appearances in the last five years, including a shot at the championship trophy last October versus the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

“That’s an achievement for both of them and the team,” Jarencio said.

FOR THE second time this school year, the UST administration had called on the students and the University staff alike to wear yellow in support of the Growling Tigers in the third game of their Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) finals match against Ateneo de Manila University —which the Tigers won in an emphatic fashion last Dec. 7.

Although I laud the administration for the extra effort to back the basketball team, it is hoped that same gesture of support could be extended to other UST teams.

The UST Jins, for example, have dominated the UAAP taekwondo tournament over the decades. UST has also been a home to top-caliber jins, including those who have played in the Olympics, such as Tshomlee Go and Donald Geisler.

UST’S volleyball squads began their respective UAAP campaigns with a loss.

The defending champions Tiger Spikers, who are aiming for a fifth straight crown, suffered an upset against the University of the Philippines in a nail-biting five-setter, 22-25, 25-18, 25-18, 23-25, 16-18, at the Arena in San Juan last Nov. 27.

The day before, the Lady Spikers got swept by the Ateneo de Manila University in three sets, 16-25, 23-25,18-25.

A string of miscues in the final frame doomed the Tiger Spikers as team captain Jayson Ramos’ attacks went wide while Christian Alabastro committed a service error.

THE GROWLING Tigers got the boot early in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) after losing to De La Salle University, 67-72, at the Arena in San Juan last Nov. 21.

Rookie Kevin Ferrer led the Tigers with a game-high 23 points, in the absence of chief gunners Jeric Fortuna and Jeric Teng, who were competing in the Southeast Asian games. Fellow rookie Louie Vigil and sophomore Kim Lo chipped in nine points apiece.

Coach Pido Jarencio said the team had only one week to prepare for the tournament.

THOMASIAN athletes notched decent finishes to contribute to the Philippine team’s 169-medal haul in the 26th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosted by Indonesia from Nov. 11 to 22.

The Philippines finished at sixth place—its worst since 1978—with 36 gold, 56 silver, and 77 gold medals.

Lady Jin Camille Manalo, who was the UAAP 73 Athlete of the Year, won a gold medal in the lightweight division after dumping Thanh Thao Nguyen of Vietnam, 8-3, in SEAG’s tough taekwondo tournament.

“I’m really happy because I’m the first Thomasian to win gold and I know I can leave a memorable experience to my school,” Manalo said. “I’m so proud to give honor to my country considering that it was my first time [in SEA Games].”