Tag: Vol. LXXXI

PLAYING with a twice-to-beat advantage, the Tiger Spikers pulverized Adamson University, 25-19, 25-22, 25-17, in the UAAP Men’s Volleyball tournament last February 10 at The Arena in San Juan.

UST was so dominant that it fielded second-stringers as early as the first set and still managed to mow down Adamson.

Despite UST’s string of unforced errors in the third canto, Adamson fell back because of Henry Pecaña’s back-to-back quick kills. Ray Karl Dimaculangan two service aces of his own.

The opposing squad relied on smooth receptions to convert 24 out of 65 attempts, but the Tigers neutralized this with solid blocks to smother Adamson’s hope for victory.

THE GOLDEN Booters are poised to claim a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four with a tournament-leading 17 markers, a point ahead of second-running Far Eastern University.

The point total is courtesy of UST’s five wins and two draws, their latest conquest being a 3-2 manhandling of University of the East (UE) last February 10 at the Ateneo de Manila University Erenchun field.

“Everybody in the team is stepping up, delivering a good performance every game,” coach Marjo Allado said. “But we need to win our next games to play for the championship. The 17 points we have right now are still not enough.”

FOR THE España army, love was not the only cause for celebration last Valentine’s Day.

Bouncing back from a disappointing bridesmaid finish last year, the UST Male Tennisters returned with a vengeance this time around to end as champions, punctuating their dominance with an 8-0 sweep.

The Tennisters authored a 4-1 season-ender, dethroning defending champion De La Salle University last February 14 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court.

“I was not expecting anything from this team, I thought we’d end up second,” coach Karl Sta. Maria said. “It was their heart that really took us to victory.”

ARE THOMASIANS ready for the “Super Bowl?”

A group of Thomasians enamored with American football is trying to introduce the game on campus with the goal of forming a UST-wide team, a first in the country.

“We were influenced to play the sport by our Fil-Am friends headed by Ryan Go,” said Leo Montalvo, one of the instigators of the sport in the University. “We contacted them three years ago to play with them.” The encounter with the Fil-Am group inspired them to introduce the sport in UST.

This contact sport involves a lot of highly physical moves where teams tackle each other in order to bring the ball called “pigskin” to the opponent’s end zone.

DETERMINED to book a championship ticket this time around, the UST Male Tennisters essayed back-to back wins in the ongoing Season 72 lawn tennis tournament to stay on top with a 5-0 win-loss slate.

UST swept the luckless University of the Philippines (UP) for its second straight victory last January 10 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court.

UST’s Miguel Narvaez emerged victorious over James Pang after a three-hour battle that ended at 7-6, 5-7, 6-4. In the doubles match, the black-gold-white tandem of Ryan Montalbo and Gerard Pinili subdued Dennis Vitaliano and Julian Mendoza with a 6-3, 6-2 win.

Season 70 Rookie of the Year Raymond Villarete contributed to UST’s cause with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Justine Echague in the second singles clash.

THE GREEN Archers are closing in, threatening to erase the Tigers’ slim 17-thin point lead at the end of the first semester and deny UST another UAAP general championship. UST’s fate now rests on 14 Tigers squads, three of which are defending their respective crowns against vastly improved opponents.

Here are the Varsitarian’s predictions on how the Tigers would perform in the final seven events.

Tiger Spikers

Last Season: Champion

Prediction: Champion

THE UST Tiger Spikers punctuated their dominance of the first round, trouncing the University of the Philippines (UP) squad, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22, last January 13 at The Arena, San Juan.

UST finished the eliminations tied with the Far Eastern University with a similar 6-1 win-lose slate.

John Paul Torres and Henry Pecaña delivered 22 and 14 attack points, respectively, to help UST conquer the Maroons.

“Though we now lead the standings, with one loss, I am still not contented with the team’s level of performance,” coach Emil Lontoc said. “But we are eagerly preparing for the second round to improve our game.”

FORGET about the UST Softbelles’ humiliating 0-10 defeat against the University of the East.

A decision by the UAAP board forfeiting the game kept UST’s clean slate, and propelled the squad to the top of the team standings with a 3-0 record alongside defending champion Adamson University.

UST Coach Sandy Barredo said UE’s game against UST and the University of the Philippines were forfeited because shortstopper Maricar Barrientos was not included in the official line-up submitted to the screening committee.

FEAR of elimination proved to be a driving force for the College of Nursing that got to play another day in the Thomasian Goodwill Games Men’s Football Games, after a 3-1 do-or-die victory against highly-favored College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) team last January 15 at the UST open field.

Ian Badilla unleashed a long shot into the unguarded goal of CRS in the 79th minute of the game to bring Nursing’s lead to 3-1. The mistake came as CRS goalie Ian Perfecto attempted to disrupt the offense at the goal area, allowing Badilla a clear view of the net.

CRS’ defense was rattled by DJ Mendoza’s goal at the very first minute of the game that gave Nursing an early lead.

LAST year may have been wrought with challenges but the year 2010 brings the promise of change for Filipinos, especially with the first automated national elections. Along with this, Thomasians have also come up with their own “declaration of change” in the form of New Year’s resolutions, which will hopefully last up until the end of the year of the tiger. The Varsitarian has compiled a rundown of the more uncommon things Thomasians want to change or improve this year.

What is your New Year resolution?

“I would eat breakfast from now on and focus more on my studies.” – Chauvin Totanes, second-year Tourism and Hospitality Manangement