Tag: Vol. LXXXV

THOMASIAN athletes dominated the 4th POC-PSC Philippine National Games last May 16 to 25.

Tiger Spikers Mark Gil Alfafara and Kris Roy Guzman took home the championship in the men’s beach volleyball tournament after surviving the pair from Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Aga Tahiluddin and Halim Khan, 21-23, 26-24, 15-8, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The UST duo lost all first sets of their six games but managed to come back for a perfect 6-0 win-loss record.

“Nahirapan kami mag-adjust sa mga unang sets dahil konti lang ‘yung araw na magakasama kami ng partner ko sa training dahil sa summer classes niya at na-admit ako sa hospital a week before the games,” said Guzman, UAAP Season 76 beach volleyball Rookie of the Year.

THE UST Golden Tigresses recorded their worst showing in the Shakey’s V-League after suffering a 15-25, 18-25, 22-25 defeat at the hands of Adamson University in their best-of-three, battle for third series at The Arena in San Juan last May 25.

UST won five straight matches in the elimination round before suffering a losing skid in the playoffs. Adamson and eventual first runner-up National University Lady Bulldogs then both swept the Tigresses in their respective encounters.

The Tigresses looked disoriented in the first two sets, allowing 10 service aces from the Lady Falcons. Chlodia Cortez was the lone bright spot as she chalked up 13 points for the listless spikers from España.

ESPAÑA United (EU) settled for fifth place in the 3rd National Ultimate Collegiate Championships (NUCC) at the Greenfield City Sports Field in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last May 24 to 25.

EU, UST's official Frisbee team, failed to enter the semifinals after losing to Ateneo de Manila University, 5-4, in a tightly contested match.

With Ateneo leading by a point, 4-3, UST’s Trisha Dy, a Mythical Seven member, blocked a crucial pass from Ateneo which resulted in a John Caliwag goal via Peter Regis’ backhand assist for the equalizer, 4-4.

UST stood its ground on defense with interceptions from Caliwag, Simon Aranas and Pio Fajardo.

THE UST Tigresses lost steam in the second half and settled for a runner-up finish against National University, 75-67, in the Finals of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan last June 8.

Tigress Trixie Antiguera cut NU’s lead to three, 63-66, with a layup before Tin Abriam’s jumper stretched the Lady Bulldogs’ lead to seven, 70-63, with 1:44 remaining.

The Tigresses inched closer once more, 67-70, with four freethrows from Lore Rivera, who returned from a one-game suspension, and Sonia Felisarta.

The Lady Bulldogs answered back with Cams Escoto’s undergoal stab for the final score.

Rivera paced the Tigresses with 14 points and 20 boards while Jhenn Angeles and Maica Cortes added 13 and 11 markers, respectively.

TWO JUNIOR Tigersharks are making waves in local and international competitions.

Sean Terence Zamora and Skyler Claveria are a living proof of UST’s world-class sports program as shown by their combined collection of gold medals.

Zamora went home with six gold medals in the 2014 Hong Kong Stingrays Swimming Championships last May. He also collected 11 gold medals in the 2014 Australia Swimming Championships-All Stars Challenge in Perth last April and another six in the 54th Philippine Swimming League (PSL) leg series at the Diliman Preparatory School in Quezon City last March, on top of three record-breaking finishes.

FORMER UST coach Aric del Rosario clinched his first title for the University of Perpetual Help Altas, who subdued the Growling Tigers, 56-65, in the 20th Fr. Martin Cup Summer basketball tournament at the Trinity University of Asia Gym last June 8.

Tied 46-all in the payoff period, the Altas ignited a 14-4 run on back-to-back treys from Harold Arboleda and Joel Jolangco to erect an 11-point lead, 61-50, with five minutes left.

Aljon Mariano and Paulo Pe answered for the Tigers to trim the deficit to five, 56-61. But Arboleda and Nigerian big man Akhuetie Bright made four freethrows to seal the victory.

UST head coach Bong Dela Cruz commended his players, who almost ruled the pre-UAAP tournament despite a depleted lineup.

FOR THE second straight year, the UST Tiger Cubs made an early exit in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premiere Cup.

The Cubs went cold early in the second half and suffered a 48-66 beating at the hands of the San Sebastian-Recoletos Golden Staglets at The Arena in San Juan last May 30.

UST lost its last four outings and finished the preseason tournament with a 1-4 win-loss record.

After a close first half, 27-32, against the NCAA powerhouse, UST surrendered nine unanswered points to open the third period as the Staglets pulled away, 41-27.

Nicole Luna tried to keep UST in the game with six straight points to cut the deficit, 33-41, but the Staglets’ ball movement and rebounding was too much for the struggling Cubs.

THIS former UST High School standout hopes to finally become a full-fledged Growling Tiger.

Alvin Ungria, a former UAAP juniors mythical five member who averaged 15.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game during his senior year, was relegated to Team B due to the presence of more established wingmen in Jeric Teng and Kevin Ferrer.

With Teng now in the PBA, Ungria hopes to move up to Team A and finally fulfill his potential.

Undersized for the forward position, the 5'11" Ungria is working on his dribbling skills to fill in the shooting guard position left vacant by Teng.

“Okay lang sa’kin munang maging role player, tutulungan ‘yung team, sunod lang sa sinasabi ng coach,” he said should he make the cut.

OVER the years, schools have recognized how other UAAP events are as important as basketball in vying for the overall title.

This was how Jasmine Payo, senior sports reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, described how De La Salle University outplayed UST for the general championship in the last two years—via slightly different margins but in the same, slow-but-sure and dominant fashion.

“Most UAAP schools have seen the importance of developing a university sports program,” she said. “Focus has gone beyond basketball, hence, recruitment in other sports has also become competitive.”

UST OFFICIALS did not have to look far to find the next Growling Tigers' head coach, but the choice came as a shock to many.

Segundo “Bong” Dela Cruz III, who was tapped to replace Pido Jarencio, said he himself was surprised with the administration’s decision.

“Nagulat ako na ako ‘yung pinili. Hindi ko akalain na ako ang magiging coach ng UST Tigers,” said Dela Cruz, one of Jarencio’s former assistant coaches.

The former UST Tiger Cub turned Adamson Falcon was picked over Siot Tanquincen, Aric Del Rosario, Gerard Francisco and assistant coach Estong Ballesteros, who was endorsed by Jarencio himself.

Dela Cruz will take over an intact team that is fresh from two UAAP Finals heartbreaks.