Tag: No. 1

UST MALE Woodpusher and reigning UAAP MVP Timothy So Kua registered 7.5 points in nine games to top the junior boys’ division of the 21st Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships at the SM Megamall Event Center last May 29 and 30.

So Kua racked up seven wins, one draw and a loss in the National Capital Region leg of the competition to tie Arellano University’s Kyz Llantada at first place. With the finish, he will compete in the grand finals for the first time on Sept. 14 and 15 at the same venue.

“I’m very happy because this is my first time to enter the grand finals [of Shell] after several tries since I was a kid,” So Kua said. “I can use what I learned here in the UAAP.”

THE UST Tigresses capped their Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup campaign at third place after surviving the Centro Escolar University (CEU), 68-67, at The Arena in San Juan last June 7.

Janine Ong steered the Tigresses with 19 points, 15 of which came from three-pointers, while team captain Marian Mejia and center Maica Cortes combined for 31 markers and 21 rebounds.

Ybur Mendoza paced the Lady Scorpions with 21 points.

With five minutes left to play, Mejia converted on an and-one basket to give the Tigresses a 56-52 lead after the Lady Scorpions committed two consecutive turnovers.

THE recent release of the worldwide university subject rankings by London-based consultancy Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) has seen the three top universities in the annual listings.

Unfortunately, UST is nowhere to be found.

Of the 30 subjects included in the rankings, the English Language and Literature category is a former stronghold of UST. But this year, the University—touted as one of the finest hubs of litterateurs and men of the humanities in the country—slipped in the reckoning.

WITH key Tigers returning from a one-year absence, the UST Growling Tigers are gunning for another Final Four run and eventually, another title.

Concluding with an 8-5 win-loss card and placing fourth in the last season, the Tigers will take another road to glory with a more seasoned squad bolstered by the return of Clark Bautista, Aljon Mariano, and Eduardo Daquioag.

“They were a big loss last year because all of them are dependable scorers. They could really boost the team in terms of offense and defense,” UST coach Pido Jarencio said.

Bautista was saddled by academic deficiencies last year, while Mariano and Daquioag were out because of injuries.

Mariano had an explosive comeback leading  UST in scoring in seven of its nine outings in the recent Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup. He had a career-high 26 points against the University of the Philippines.

“I made adjustments especially because I was coming from a year of break, but I always had the mindset that I also needed to step up for my team,” Mariano said.

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.

TWO UST swimmers helped power the Philippine Water Polo squad to a fourth-place finish in the first Southeast Asian Swimming Championships in Singapore from May 28 to June 1.

Representing UST in the Philippine Sirens were Marvie Borja and Caress Gonzales.

The Sirens, who also won bronze in the Betawi Cup in Indonesia last year, will again compete with other top Asian teams in Hong Kong this August.

In a separate tournament, six UST Tigersharks were tapped to join the Philippine All-Star Water Polo team in the second University Water Polo championship in Singapore from June 13 to June 21.

They are Samuel John Alcos, Lenard Louie Avelino, Gerol Castillo, Kristian Leonardo Libat, Karlo Miguel Salonga, and Jeremiah Tolentino.

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

THE GROWLING Tigers will parade a veteran line-up in their bid to recapture the UAAP basketball crown. An NCAA recruit and a rookie point guard might provide the boost the squad badly needs.

Roberto Hainga
Age: 22
Height: 6’7”
Position: Center

This 6’7” former University of Perpetual Help center cannot only grab rebounds but also intimidate foes attacking the basket. An over-all contributor to his former team, Hainga is expected to man the middle with Karim Abdul and Paulo Pe.

“UAAP is a more intensified collegiate league than NCAA. It has stronger teams, and greater performance is expected of you by everyone—especially the crowd,” he said.

THE SOPHOMORE coach of the UST judo team had a budding sports writing career—until fate brought him back to the game he loved.

Gerard Peter Arce turned his back on sports journalism to return to his alma mater and call the shots for the Tiger Judokas, who were previously coached by his father Jojo.

The younger Arce made an impact right away, stirring the squad to back-to-back championships. Not bad for someone to had to give up judo to focus on earning a college diploma.

Arce got it alright, a Journalism degree from the Faculty of Arts and Letters, and went on to cover sports for a number of broadsheets. Still, he knew something was missing.

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.