Tag: No. 3

THE UST Tigresses bounced back from a three-game losing skid, handing Ateneo De Manila University its fifth-straight loss, 72-63, in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan last July 21.

Down by two points at the start of the payoff period, UST unleashed a 14-2 run, capped by team captain Marian Mejia’s fastbreak layup, to build a 12-point separation, 67-55, with three minutes left in the game.

Lady Eagle Kat Nunez sank a three-pointer with under a minute left to keep UST within striking distance.

ARE UST swimmers plunging into harmful waters?

The Tigersharks and Female Tigersharks are facing quite a challenge in their quest to improve their dismal fourth-place finishes last UAAP season, and it is in the University pool.

Swimming coach Cyrus Alcantara said his wards over the years have been complaining of discomfort when training in the pool located beside the Domus Mariae International Residence on P. Noval Street.

“Some of the common complaints I receive are pain in, discoloration, and thinning of the teeth, eye irritation and wounds on the neck, armpits, bikini lines and inner thighs,” he said.

NOT FOR wealth and fame but for the love of the game.

Losing what could have been UST’s 14th consecutive UAAP general championship to De La Salle University last season might have been one of the hardest blows to the UST sporting community, and it could be because the University values the passion and tradition of amateur sports more than keeping in step.

“We maintain our policy of amateurism (as against commercial sports). As long as we can compete, then we keep it that way,” said Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics, in an interview with the Varsitarian.

IT WAS a victory five years in the making.

The Growling Tigers snapped their 12-game losing skid against the Ateneo Blue Eagles and stunned the defending UAAP champions in a come-from-behind 71-70 victory at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum last July 19.

The Tigers banked on a strong third quarter to turn a 19-point second quarter deficit into a 58-54 lead and clinch their first win of the season. UST was coming off a sorry loss to the FEU Tamaraws in their season opener.

Forward Aljon Mariano dropped 12 of his game-high 21 points in the pivotal third period where UST outscored Ateneo, 30-11. Mariano, who sat out last season due to an ankle fracture, also grabbed 12 rebounds.

THE UST Tigresses leaned on a stifling defense to grab their first win this season at the expense of the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons, 72-58, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last July 26.

Kristine Siapoc led UST with 21 points on top of eight rebounds and four steals, while Marian Mejia and Maica Cortes raked in 16 markers apiece. Karen Salapong paced UP with a game-high 23 points.

Siapoc shot 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, including one in the third quarter which capped UST’s 10-1 run to put them ahead by double digits, 46-34.

GOLDEN Sox Carlo Conge bucked the absence of his UST teammates with a solid performance as the Dumaguete Uni-bikers won third place with a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over the Alabang Tigers in the ninth season of Baseball Philippines at the Rizal Mermorial Baseball Stadium last July 15.

The Uni-Bikers, who missed the services of Arvin Plaza and Amber Plaza, were down 2-4 in the eighth inning when they took advantage of Alabang’s out-of-sync pitching to mount four points and complete the comeback.

Conge scored an RBI (Runs Batted In), including two runs to propel the Uni-Bikers’ escape act against the Tigers, who were also reinforced by UST players.

ACADEMIC incentives given to high school athletes may be fostering student laxity.

This observation was made by UST High School officials after the decline in academic performance of some student athletes enjoying the benefits of the Program in Academics for Student-Athletes (Pasa)

The program, which was implemented only last year, aims to assist student-athletes balance their academic and athletic obligations.

“But it’s not an option for them to use this program to slack off because of the incentives given to them,” said Frederick Manubay, program chairperson.

Ma. Teresa Ramos, assistant chairperson of the program, said student-athletes sometimes tend to not take their quizzes if they have practice sessions or game schedules.

WITH less than five minutes left to play in a game that had nothing exactly at stake, Japs Cuan went all out.

Cuan locked down on his defender, poked the ball loose, dove for it recklessly, and passed it to Jojo Duncil for a quick fastbreak layup.

The play was part of a spirited run that allowed the Tigers Alumni All-Star team to claw its way back from a 29-point deficit against the current Tigers squad. The play, more importantly, displayed vintage Thomasian basketball.

“We want to show them how to play with heart and never give up,” said Cuan, the starting point guard of the 2006 championship team. “They have to take certain pride when they wear their uniforms because they represent UST.”

A FAMILIAR face graces the courtside and delivers reports straight from the huddle and dugout of the Growling Tigers.

Season 74 UST courtside reporter Tina Marasigan keeps the job this year, despite efforts from ABS-CBN Sports to hire a current student from the University.

“Marasigan proved to be better than any of the applicants from UST during the audition process. There were no endorsements from anyone connected with UST or even within ABS-CBN,” ABS-CBN Sports wrote in an email to the Varsitarian.

“They (ABS-CBN) asked me to stand by even before they conducted the screening. But I requested them to prioritize the student-applicants,” Marasigan said.

TIGER Kent Lao played a pivotal role in helping Energen Pilipinas claim its fifth Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Under-18 title after whipping Indonesia, 81-57, last June 30 in Singapore.

Lao scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds for the squad, which will participate in the FIBA Asia meet in Ulan Bator, Mongolia from August 17 to 26.

“I feel so privileged [to be part of the team]. I’ve learned a lot from it and my confidence got higher because of this experience,” Lao said.

During the tournament, Lao averaged 9.8 points per game (PPG), 6.8 rebounds per outing, and 54.5 percent in field goal shooting.