Tag: No. 6

Though leading the pack at the end of the first semester, UST cannot afford to slow down since it’s ahead La Salle by just two points in the race for the overall title. That means UST has to dominate the second semester events.

Male Tennisters
Last year: Second Place
Prediction: Finals

Despite the graduation of last season’s team captain Bernanlou Bering, the Male Tennisters are poised for another title shot this season.

Rookies Dave Masqueda, Clarence Cabahog and Christian Lopez will bolster this year’s lineup, while veteran Al Francis Potutan is expected to lead the team as the new captain.

Sophomore EJ Laure’s captaincy proved to be the positive change the Golden Tigresses needed.

Laure was hailed as captain as senior Carmela Tunay “struggled” when she temporarily held the position after captain Pam Lastimosa went out with a season-ending injury last December.

“Noong binigay siya kay EJ, para kong nabunutan ng tinik. Masyado kong inisip na kailangan kong madala ‘yung team. I was pressuring myself,” Tunay said.

Tunay downplayed ideas of a rift between her and Laure and even lauded the younger Tigresses for her leadership on and off the court.

“She knows what to say and when to say it,” added Tunay.

While Laure is captain on paper, the seniors still have the voice on the team, head coach Emilio Reyes noted.

THE UST Tiger Spikers may have lost a valuable gem in former UAAP Most Valuable Player Mark Alfafara but found a diamond in the rough in rookie Jomaru Amagan.

Amagan will be a key addition to the Tiger Spikers who have not tasted the championship since Season 74 as they look to dethrone defending champions Ateneo de Manila University.

The Imus native turned heads during his first and last stint in the National Collegiate Athletic Association donning the colors of Lyceum of the Philippines University Junior Pirates. He bagged four individual awards—Best Scorer, Best Server, Rookie of the Year and the MVP plum.

A TEAM of mechanical engineering students is gearing to defend its pride as it competes in two categories of the Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM) Asia next year.

During the official launch of SEM Asia at the Plaza Mayor last Nov. 12, the UST team announced that it would be joining both the prototype and urban-concept categories.

The prototype category is for smaller, more futuristic vehicles whose primary design reduces drag and maximizes efficiency, while the urban-concept category is for conventional four-wheeled vehicles.

The UST squad showcased its official entry car named “Tiger-400,” or T-400, for the prototype category by conducting several test runs around Plaza Mayor.

WITH THE UAAP general championship within reach, Thomasian athletes are riding on the momentum of a solid performance in the first semester. Here is the Varsitarian's forecast on how the remainder of Season 77 could unfold for UST.

VOLLEYBALL

Golden Tigresses
Last Year: Sixth Place
Prediction: Finals

With an intact lineup bolstered by highly regarded rookies, the UST Golden Tigresses are raring to return to the Final Four after missing out in the past two years of the UAAP.

Team captain Pamela Lastimosa and veteran Carmela Tunay are expected to lead the squad in its quest to revive the UST volleyball’s winning tradition.

THE UST football teams suffered separate losses at the start the UAAP Season 77 football tournament last Nov. 30.

The Golden Booters were edged in a shootout with defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU) and absorbed a 4-7 defeat at the FEU-Diliman pitch.

UST team captain Gino Clarino converted his second penalty kick in the 70th minute while Steven Anotado connected on a long kick in the 74th mark to cut their deficit to two, 3-5.

But FEU’s Jesus Melliza delivered the dagger goal in the 75th minute on the other end of the pitch for a 6-3 advantage.

THE UST Tiger Cubs were overpowered by the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, 70-82, in the UAAP Season 77 junior’s basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle gym, last Dec. 3.

UST trailed by as much as 20, 39-59, in the third quarter as they absorbed their second straight defeat to open the season.

Enzo Montes paced the Cubs with 16 points but it was not enough. Lorenzo Mendoza had a game-high 22 markers for Ateneo.

Last Nov. 29, the Tiger Cubs fell short in their opening match against the Adamson University Baby Falcons, 69-75.

Ronald Mayor sparked a 9-0 run for the Cubs in the third quarter to cut Adamson’s once 14-point lead to five, 49-54.

THE UST Golden Tigresses suffered their third straight loss, this time at the hands of defending champion Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, 21-25, 13-25, 19-25, in the UAAP Season 77 women's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan last Dec. 6.

The Golden Tigresses dropped to a 1-3 win-loss record, while the Lady Eagles remained undefeated in four games.

UST head coach Odjie Mamon attributed his team's third consecutive defeat to his seniors' poor performance.

Veterans Pamela Lastimosa and Carmela Tunay scored only two points each as the Tigresses have lost nine of their last 10 sets since dismantling the University of the East in their season opener.

THE UST Tigers Spikers are rolling to start the UAAP Season 77 men’s volleyball tournament after sweeping the University of the Philippines Maroon Spikers in straight sets, 25-18, 25-11, 25-15, at the Arena in San Juan last Dec. 3.

UST notched their third straight win in as many games and is still undefeated.

Former Most Valuable Player Mark Alfafara had another dominant game as he paced the Tigers with 18 points, 16 from spikes, while team captain Romnick Rico and Jason Sarabia both added 11 markers each. Paul Castillo likewise made his presence felt, running the UST offense to perfection with his 27 excellent sets.

THE GROWLING Tigers' remarkable run in UAAP Season 76 ended with a 69-71 overtime loss to the De La Salle Green Archers, who claimed the men's basketball title at the Mall of Asia Arena last Oct. 12.

It marked the second straight season wherein the Tigers missed what could have been their first title since 2006. But unlike last year's match against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, this year's series against the Archers had the makings of a classic.