Tag: No. 10

THE UST Lady Spikers are back on track after thrashing the University of the East, 26-14, 25-16, 25-23, in their UAAP tussle at The Arena in San Juan last Jan. 30.

The Lady Spikers, who faltered against two-time champion De La Salle University last Jan. 26, remained in the hunt of a Final Four seat with a 6-4 win-loss card. They are tied with Adamson University and Far Eastern University at third spot.

Sophomore Carmela Tunay unleashed 11 points, including two blocks, for UST. But it was the offensive trio of team captain Judy Caballejo, Maika Ortiz, and Maru Banaticla that did most of the damage in the third set.

WHEN one of them couldn’t find his groove, the two other stepped up.

That’s how the Tiger Cubs’ Big 3—Prince Martin, Alvin Ungria, and Nicko Bahia—played all season long, complementing each other especially in crucial stretches. Though the team didn’t bag the title, the Cubs improved from sixth to third place this year.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, they will be without the trio next season. The Big 3 will be showcasing their skills in the collegiate ranks, hoping to land spots in the loaded Growling Tigers’ roster.

The 5’11’ Martin, a product of the School of St. Andrew, had a breakout season with the Cubs, with two career-high, 40-point games. He averaged 16.1 points and seven rebounds in 15 games this season.

THE UST men’s and women’s football teams both settled for scoreless draws in separate matches against the Ateneo de Manila University.

The Golden Booters failed in their quest to hand top-ranked Ateneo its first loss of the season, while the Lady Booters could not break free from Ateneo’s suffocating defense in their duel last Jan. 21 at the Ateneo Ocampo Football Field.

Golden Booter Peter Ricamora launched two attacks in the 61st and 65th minutes in hopes of snatching the victory for UST. But both shots went straight into the hands of Ateneo’s goalie.

With only four minutes left, Leo Liay’s attempt from the left flank was successfully deflected by UST’s goalkeeper.

LEAVING their dismal first-round performance behind, the UST Lady Spikers repulsed a stubborn Ateneo de Manila University squad in a four-set thriller, 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, at The Arena in San Juan last Jan. 15.

With the win, UST (5-3) is now just a game behind Ateneo (6-2), which is at second place.

Maruja Banaticla, one of four Lady Spikers who finished in double figures, sparkled with 15 points for UST. She kept Ateneo’s defense off-balanced with her cross-court kills.

 “We’re still vying for that second spot, and maybe even the top, since these rankings will give an advantage come the Final Four,” coach Odjie Mamon said.

He said the recent encounter was one of the team’s best games yet, with all of the Lady Spikers, bench players included, filling in the gaps on any position on the court.

The Lady Spikers survived Ateneo in a grueling fourth set, 25-23, with back-to-back scores courtesy of a kill from rookie Loren Lantin and an ace from Katrina Carangan.

Midway in the second canto, team captain and veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan twisted her left ankle and had to leave the game. But the Lady Spikers were unfazed and pummeled Ateneo with a 10-4 blit, to tie the match at one set apiece.

THE UST Golden Sox kept their momentum going, scoring back-to-back victories while their female counterparts dropped their third game, in separate duels at the Rizal Stadium in Manila.

Defending champions Golden Sox scored their second win in a row against Adamson University, 12-7, last Jan. 19, four days after overwhelming the University of the Philippines, 9-4.

Gerald Mitra’s ground ball on top of the last inning gave reigning MVP Nikko Reyes and Christian Mercado an easy run to erect a 12-7 lead and ensure victory for UST.

Playing his first season, Mercado stepped up and nailed a left fielder that allowed Season 73 Rookie of the Year Arvin Plaza to the home plate early that inning.

THE UST Lady Booters toppled a hapless De La Salle University squad, 1-0, while the Golden Booters settled for a 1-1 draw against La Salle’s men’s team in their respective UAAP matches at the Ateneo de Manila University football field last Jan 19.

Ace midfielder and national player Jowe-Ann Barruga sealed the game for UST in the 45th minute with a header that went over goalkeeper’s Hannah Ibarra outstretched arms.

The winning effort was Barruga’s way of making up for his absence in the Lady Booters’ pre-season training due to academic commitments.

“I wanted to show that I could still keep up with my teammates despite missing training,” she said in Filipino after the game.

Defending champion UST Male Tennisters ended a two-game losing streak by walloping a listless Ateneo de Manila University squad, 4-1, in their first-round encounter at the Rizal Tennis Court in Manila last Jan. 15.

UST is at fourth place behind pace-setter University of the Philippines (UP) and National University (NU) and De La Salle University, which are at second and third places, respectively.

“It’s nice that we won, but if you look into Ateneo’s line up they’re not that strong,” said head coach Gabby Remigio. “A better test is the game that we will have with La Salle next week.”

IT WAS a bittersweet affair for the UST Woodpushers as they chalked in contrasting performances at the Far Eastern University Technology Building last Jan. 15.

The second-seeded Male Woodpushers dominated sixth-seeded University of the East (UE), 4-0, while their female counterparts lost the Ateneo de Manila University, 1.5-2.5.

The UST quartet of Gerald Ferriol, Patrick Florendo, Albert Florendo, and Steven Dacanay thumped UE, the day after the team was held to a 2-2 draw against the University of the Philippines.

IN A SMALL corner at the rather crowded UST field, a team is competing for space. Not to mention the more important objective of the Tiger University Seals, a flag football team composed of Thomasians, to be officially recognized by school authorities.

As things stand, the squad can’t carry UST’s name, a frustration for a group seeking acclaim for their alma mater.

Thus, explains why the team had to make do with the Tiger moniker.

“We cannot carry the name ‘UST’ because we are not an official sports club of the University,” club president Mel Calletor said.

RECENTLY, we had a chance to borrow a bulky old book of clippings from the family of late baseball legend and former UST baseball coach Teodulo “Lefty” Viray. The yellowish color and the old newspaper stench might give chills to some but also aroused a sense of admiration on how someone could be so great even before the age of high class gyms and food supplements. (See story on page 15)

Browsing through the aged articles, I encountered a feature published in the ‘50s in which UST was being compared to a farm for athletes—and guess what, the analogy has never changed. (I’m not surprised why other universities pirate our athletes.)