Tag: No. 3

THREE days after suffering a 66-82 defeat from the hot-shooting Far Eastern University (FEU) Baby Tamaraws, the Tiger Cubs bounced back in dominating fashion by walloping the University of the East (UE) Junior Warriors, 105-55, at the Arena in San Juan last July 25.

Tiger Cub Alvin Ungria exploded for 22 points to lift UST to a 2-1 win-loss card and take the solo second spot behind defending champion National University and FEU, which both have a perfect 3-0 record.

UST dictated the tempo early, scoring in transition and high-percentage shots to take a commanding 28-point lead, 58-30, at the end of the first half. The Cubs also defended well at the perimeter to limit the Warriors’ scoring opportunities. Joshua Viajar scored 13 points for UE.

THREE UST Softbelles will reinforce the Philippine squad in its campaign in the 2012 Big League Softball World Series (BLSWS) in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Aug. 2 to 8.

Thomasian pitcher Kristine Joy Lacupa, third baseman Charmaine Joy Oria, and catcher Maria Luna Amparo will play for Team-Manila Philippines, the country’s official delegate in the prestigious World Softball Series and representative of the Asia-Pacific region.

The squad, mentored by Adamson University coach Ana Maria Santiago, emerged as the overall champion in Asia-Pacific Regional Big League Softball tournament after sweeping Indonesia, 23-0, 27-0, 16-0, in their best-of-five championship series last June 25 to 29 in Jakarta. The win booked the Philippines an outright ticket in the BLSWS.

A STUNNED Growling Tigers fell victims to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum last July 30, slipping to a 2-2 card early in the UAAP cage wars.

A three- point shot from Jeric Fortuna gave an equalizer for UST at 59-all, but FEU’s Cris Tolomia nailed a crucial three-point shot to bring the score to 59-62 with 2.9 seconds remaining, en route to a UST meltdown.

The Tigers’ conditioning coach, Manny Calipes, said pressure creeped into the boys in the final moments of the game.

“Pressure was a heavy factor during the game against the team,” Calipes said. “It’s natural but we really have to overcome it.”

IF THE boys can do it, so can the girls.

After the Philippine Azkals’ single-handed rejuvenation of football in the country comes another squad seeking to make it’s own mark in regional competitions. And leading the “Malditas,” the national women’s team, are eight Thomasian booters.

Tapped to reinforce the 27-strong squad are Lady Booters Aiza Mondero, Jane Pacaña, and Jowe-Ann Barruga as midfielders, Zipporah Luna as goalkeeper, twin sisters Marie and Marice Magdolot and Joma Clemente as defensive stoppers, and striker Nikki Regalado.

Named so for their feisty attitude in the field, the Malditas will attempt to land a spot in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup this October in Laos, a crucial stepping stone for the World Cup.

UAAP defending champion UST Golden Sox succumbed to a more agile RP U-18 via mercy rule, 0-7, in an exhibition game last July 23 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“We were ‘off hitting’ that time,” said coach Jeffrey Santiago. “Our starters were not there in the diamond.”

Season 73 MVP Nikko Reyes, Best Pitcher Irvin Tuazon, and Gerald Mitra, who were expected to lead the fielding, were not able to play due to academic commitments.

“I actually let the new ones play,” said Santiago.

Waiting for one loose hit in the third base, Amber Plaza could have circled the bases in the fifth inning to register their first score, if not for the flyouts clubbed by three batters.

THE NEW home of the Tigers could play host to the two biggest and most prestigious leagues in Philippine collegiate sports.

Ateneo, host of this year’s UAAP season, and Colegio San Juan de Letran, which will host the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament next year, have both expressed interest in holding games in the new UST Sports Complex now under construction.

The two schools are particularly considering the P800-million, state-of-the-art complex as a venue for basketball and volleyball games, said Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P., director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.

THE UST Tiger Cubs clinched their second victory at the expense of a gritty University of the Philippines Junior Maroons, 67-61, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym last July 30.

Big man Paolo Florentin outmuscled undersized Jozhua General in a low-post basket, 59-48, in the last quarter to prove that taller guys lord the shaded area.

An aggressive Florentin stood up to carry the black-and-gold army to the win, tallying a career-high 15 points and nine boards.

The Cubs surprised the Junior Maroons with a full-court pressure to whip up a couple of steals and post an early 10-point lead, 14-4. But their leech-like defense led to five fouls and gave the Diliman-based dribblers several open shots in the last five minutes of the first canto, 14-12.

TWO THOMASIAN Jins missed a chance to compete in the London Olympics next year, after bowing down to separate opponents in the 2011 Olympic World Qualification Tournament held in Baku, Azerbaijan from June 25 to July 4.

UAAP Season 72 Athlete of the Year Marlon Avenido and Lady Jin Jade Zafra could still book a ticket to the world’s biggest sporting event by winning in the Asian Qualifiers slated this November.

The lanky Zafra slipped past Afghan opponent Humaira Mohammadi, 4-3, in the first round of the under-57 kilogram category, but yielded to El Salvador’s Laura Vasquez, 4-9.

THE UST Tigresses remained undefeated in three games after surviving the Far Eastern University (FEU), 66-65, in their UAAP match-up at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City last July 24.

Mary Galicia won the game for UST after splitting her free throws on an unsportsmanlike foul, with a second left in the fourth quarter. The Tigresses earlier went ahead, 65-64, after Paula Bombeo scored on a drive with 2:35 minutes left in the game clock.

The Lady Tamaraws forced the fifth deadlock of the game via split charities by Marilourd Borja. They had a chance to take the lead following an offensive rebound, but UST stole the ball, forcing Borja to foul Galicia.

THE UST Golden Sox have recruited a top rookie, who is a veteran of major international tournaments.

At 15, Christian Mercado was a member of the RP Youth 15-16 team, which claimed the top spot in the Asia Pacific Baseball Tournament after defeating Indonesia at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last July 3.

The RP team defeated Indonesia via mercy rule, 10-0, to book a ticket in the World Little League Series in Maine, USA on August 14 to 21.

Although the national team bowed to Guam, 3-4, it was awarded a win-over-the-other and quotient-system advantage after Indonesia defeated Guam. Thus, the Philippines remained in contention in the single-round robin competition.