Tag: No. 11

THE CHAMPIONSHIP will have to wait for another season for the UST Tennisters.

The España-based Tennisters were back to a familiar territory, but fell short against National University (NU) and De La Salle University in their respective UAAP lawn tennis finals matches at the Rizal Tennis Hall last Feb. 24 and 28.

Last year’s titlists Female Tennisters yielded to their long-time nemesis La Salle, 0-2, in their best-of-three championship series.

The Male Tennisters also suffered the same fate at the hands of the Bulldogs, who had a perfect 11-0 season record en route their first-ever title under former UST head coach Karl Santamaria.

BLAMING “lack of communication” among them, defending champions UST Lady Booters crashed out of the UAAP Finals following a 0-1 loss against the Far Eastern University (FEU) to finish at third place during their match at the Erenchun Field in Ateneo de Manila University last Feb. 10.

FEU’s Barbara Sobredo scored the lone goal of the game to deal UST its third loss in eight games.

“Communication on the feeling was really the problem. Just five minutes into the game, there was already shouting,” UST team captain Nikki Regalado admitted.

The Lady Booters capped the season with 11 points on a 3-2-3 win-draw-loss card.

WITH pitcher Mallows Garde sitting out the first three innings due to hand injury, the UST Softbelles failed to secure the last finals slot and succumbed to a more-composed National University (NU), 3-5, in their UAAP softball semifinals match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last Feb. 17.

NU went up early win a run on Coleen Alilin’s solid centerfield hit at the top of the second inning. It was followed by two more runs, one from Whell Gene Nietes, in the succeeding frame.

But the Softbelles snatched the momentum at the bottom of the third inning as they scored two homeruns, the other one from Sundae Alipato, to trim the lead to one.

Garde finally entered the game in the uneventful fourth frame after NU had already erected a 2-3 advantage.

FOR THE three outgoing members of the UST Golden Sox, legacy was made each hard-fought game.

“Every inning na pinupukol ko, na nagpi-pitch ako, kasama na sa history ko ‘yun. Masarap sa pakiramdam, lalo na kapag pinapatapos ako ni coach ng game, nine innings straight, proud na ‘ko sa sarili ko ‘pag ganun,” team captain and number one pitcher Irvin Tuazon said.

Along with Tuazon, co-captain and catcher Nikko Reyes and third base man Gerard Mitra have all played their final game for the senior baseball squad. It was not the conclusion they had been hoping for: a heartbreaking loss to defending champion National University, 7-12, in their knockout match for the last finals slot last Feb. 10.

THE UST Tiger Spikers registered their worst record in eight years after bowing down to De La Salle University, 18-25, 24-26, 8-25, in the UAAP men’s volleyball tournament at the San Juan Arena last Feb. 16.

The Tiger Spikers finished with a 7-7 slate to land in the fifth spot, a far-cry from their performances in the past five years when they bagged four consecutive titles and a runner-up finish.

UST’s offense was ice-cold early in the opening frame against La Salle’s solid frontline.

Team captain John Depante and sophomore Jason Sarabia combined for a measly 15 points for UST while John Dela Vega paced the Green Spikers with game-high 14 markers.

AND SO it has become a habit.

Despite being hampered by training woes, Thomasian athletes brought home yet another UAAP general championship—their 14th straight and 39th over all and the most by any school in league history.

UST lorded over eight events and amassed 298 points, ahead of perennial rival De La Salle University, which collected 278 points, and Far Eastern University, which finished with 229 points.

“We were not expecting it because of the training problems that our athletes faced [due to the demolition of the old UST gymnasium] especially in basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, and even chess,” said Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) director.

IT’S WORTH the wait.

After four years of heartbreak, UST’s rookie-laden women’s tennis team went home with the championship at the expense of De La Salle University, which was denied a third straight title, in their UAAP match that ended 3-2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center last Feb. 27.

Both teams were tied at 2-all after four games, but rookie Zaza Paulino played like a veteran at crunch time, drubbing Enah Baba, 6-3, 6-4, in a come-from-behind victory.

Season MVP Macy Gonzales and Rookie of the Year April Gonzales effortlessly pinned down La Salle’s Nadine Castillo and Aira Putiz, 6-0, 6-0.

AFTER years of supremacy, the UST Tiger Spikers surrendered their crown to long-time arch-nemesis Far Eastern University (FEU), 27-25, 15-25, 25-19, 21-25, 13-15, in their best-of-three championship series at the Arena in San Juan last Feb. 29.

Tiger Spiker Salvador Juan Depante III registered 23 points while Mark Gil Alfafara and Christian Arbasto combined for 30 markers. Finals’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rodolfo Labrador Jr. fired up 22 points for FEU.

In the deciding set, the Tamaraws took advantage of Alfafara’s faulty attacks to erect an easy 0-4 advantage. UST bounced back through Depante’s kills to slash the deficit to one point, 10-11.

THE UST Tracksters carved a pair of runner-up finishes in the UAAP athletics meet at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City last Feb. 12.

The Female Tracksters tallied a 5-12-4 gold-silver-bronze medal output, which was equivalent to 233 points. UST trails Far Eastern University (FEU), undefeated for nine consecutive years, which has 293 points.

The Male Tracksters improved on their third-place finish last year by amassing 160 points (4-2-4 gold-silver-bronze), which was behind FEU’s 188 points.

“Even if we were not as dominant, we were still fighting that why we climbed to second place,” said coach Manny Calipes, whose other wards were not able to play due to eligibility issues.

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.