Tag: Vol. LXXXI

FOR 11 straight years, the UAAP crystal ball had shed its light to only one team destined to erect a firm black-gold-white dynasty. But what awaits UST this Season 72?

In the previous year, top Thomasian martial artists blazed the UAAP mats anew to register a twin kill in the Taekwondo hostilities. In the poolside, the Tigersharks ended a 19-year title drought. The Tiger Spikers and Tiger Paddlers finished their respective tournaments unblemished even as the basketball teams struggled to secure a title.
But with other schools constantly reinforcing their sports programs, will UST finally yield its crown, or will it continue its winning tradition? Here’s the Varsitarian’s fearless forecast.

BASKETBALL

The Tiger Cubs were a picture of dominance in overwhelming the outgunned National University (NU) Bullpups, 118-48, at the start of their UAAP campaign at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan last July 12.

The Cubs toyed with the Bullpups, scoring at will while maintaining pressure on the defensive end. By the fourth quarter, they were leading by 50 points, 85-35.

Still, UST showed it killer’s instinct by allowing NU only seven field goals in the final canto.
Coach Allan Ascue commended the team’s effort, including the steady performance of his rookies.

“They were able to cope with the system easily,” he said. “There was no problem, no rookie jitters. They delivered well.”

The opening quarter saw the Cubs racing to a 15-2 advantage, anchored mostly on Kyle Neypes’ three-point plays in the inside.

Jerick Sumampong joined the assault with his deadly perimeter shooting, jacking up UST’s lead, 35-15.

NO OBSTACLE can hinder the Tigers from giving their best this season, not even the departure of two of their coaches.

Defensive coach of three years Beaujing Acot, and Tigers-B coach Rabbi Tomacruz, will not be assisting coach Pido Jarencio in the UAAP wars this time, as the two have resigned from their respective posts.

Nonetheless, Jarencio is confident that the team will be hitting the season prepared.

“Basically, the training we are using since 2006 is my training program, so the adjustment is not that difficult,” Jarencio said in Filipino.

Jarencio revealed that Acot texted him last June, saying that he is resigning from his job in the Tigers’ coaching staff. He has not been practicing with the team ever since.

UST’S new UAAP courtside reporter is a fresh face from the College of Architecture.

Meet Patricia Angeli Cansana, a senior who will be taking over erstwhile correspondent Dianne Querrer.

”I expect that this will be a pressure-packed work but still, I’m excited because I get to see the action of a live basketball game,” said the 20-year-old Cansana.

She said she used to imitate UAAP courtside reporters whenever they delivered their updates, perhaps a taste of what’s to come.

Upon seeing the advertisement on Studio 23 and motivated by a friend, Cansana set aside her fears and auditioned for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Beginner’s luck worked its magic on this student reporter, as she managed to bag the audition with flying colors.

“I never expected that I would pass the screening because it was my first time to audition in this kind of field,” she said.

DESPITE moves by some members of the House of the Representatives to amend the Constitution, the Commission on Elections has said that it’s all systems go for the presidential polls in 2010. After a voter’s education campaign in UST last December, just how many members of the Thomasian community still believe in the power of the ballot to effect change in the country’s political system. The Varsitarian asks some of them.

Will you vote in the 2010 elections? Why or why not?

“For a change, yes. Gloria is now on her ninth year and I want to see a new leader.”
–Jeff Magalong, first year electronics and communication engineering

THE FIRST thing she did after pocketing the last ball was to sit down. And then, everything began to sink in – she had just made history.

UST’s Rubilen “Bingkay” Amit will forever be remembered as the first female Filipino cue artist to win a world champion. She trounced 48 of the world’s best to capture the World 10-ball title at the SM City North Edsa last June 2 to 6.

“I didn’t think of the winning part when I was on the game. My mindset was to play the game the way I practiced it,” said UST’s College of Commerce’s top cue master in 2000 and 2001.

Starting with dad

Amit, a 27-year-old accountancy graduate, was introduced to the pool table by her dad in their home province of Cebu. Eventually, her father and daughter’s billiard quests outside their home prompted Amit’s mother to buy them a table.

She wanted them home without keeping the young Amit from her budding pastime.

THE BIG boys are gone, but if there’s one thing this season’s Tigers are not lacking, it’s fighting spirit.

Coach Pido Jarencio described his wards as one hungry pack whose intense desire could make up for their relative inexperience as a team and low ceiling.

But conscious of the handicap, he made no prediction on whether UST could finally make a return trip to the Final Four and ultimately get the job done.

“Even if we’re undersized, these players are fighters—they refuse to quit,” he said in Filipino.

Jarencio was apparently getting his confidence from the way his crew performed in pre-UAAP tune-ups during the summer. He particularly saw promise when UST, fielding a small lineup, barged into the finals of the 2009 Millennium Basketball League (MBL).

The MBL was no inter-barangay tilt. It’s the real deal where the Tigers got to compete with ex-PBA stalwarts. At the very least, Jarencio said the experience was invaluable.

Pathetic defense crashed the Tigers’ title hopes as they bowed to Lyceum-Showa, 73-91, in the Millennium Basketball League (MBL) finals at the Lyceum gym last June 23.

In contrast, Lyceum’s offense was fluid and its defense solid to keep the Dickies-backed Tigers frustrated for most of the game.

“Our defense was terrible that’s why our offense was directly affected and we found it hard to shoot,” Tigers’ team captain Dylan Ababou admitted.

The Tigers had problems patrolling the middle and boxing out Lyceum’s Jerwin Gaco and Chris Aqualaful.

Still, they came within 10 in the fourth quarter, 59-69, courtesy of the steady sniping by MBL MVP  Allein Maliksi and Khasim Mirza.

But Lyceum’s own duo, Allen Disuntarum and Dondon Villamin brought back the bubble to 15 points, 59-75. UST got no closer than that the rest of the way.

Early pull-away

EXPECT no big man from among the Tigers from recruits for the coming UAAP season. But coach Pido Jarencio expects his rookies–none of them standing above 6’3”–to play tough and play big.

The new heirs of the Growling Tigers’ monarchy will be rookies Darrel Green, Marco Cam, Rushdy Hadi, Eduard Aytona, Jerick Teng, Aljohn Ungria, Andrew Felix and Aljon Mariano.

Marco Cam

Jersey No. 21

Height: 6’0”

Position: Forward

PBA/NBA icon: Ron Artest of Houston Rockets

Previously playing for the San Sebastian Junior Stags, the 19-year-old Cam has the wit of setting-up unselfish plays for his teammates. Chalking up points in the assists department, he can also shoot from the rainbow country and penetrate the basket despite the sturdy defense played by the opponents.

Aljohn Ungria

Jersey No. 17

Height: 6’1”

Position: Center/Forward

WITH a new head coach leading the charge for the Tigresses, will a miracle come along to convert their Season 71’s penitential third-place finish into a championship title?

Coach Julie Amos speaks in practical terms, focusing how a new system can potentially send the squad to a title finish this year.

“Since I just started as a new coach, we are on a transition and are still working on the new training,” she said.

Amos highlighted the importance of a deep bench, especially for a running team such as the Tigresses. Lack of supporting players that can step up was a problem for the team in the past.

“We are extending the bench so that if the top five players get exhausted, we still have many reserve players (that can) play,” she said.

She said she was excited to coach the team because the players were responding well to her system and new teammates.