Sports

UAAP 75 Tiger update

Published

12 years ago

November 18, 2012

FIVE golds and two silvers were not enough to lead UST in the over-all championship race of the diamond season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). Will the Tigers’ dynasty come to an end?

After the first semester of actions in UAAP season 75, the consecutive 14-year defending champion, University of Santo Tomas, amassed a total of 144 points, enough for a second place in the over-all standing. UST is trailing by eight points under the perennial rival De La Salle University, who garnered 152 points.

Despite falling short in the number one spot in the over-all championship race, the UST Lady Spikers, Tiger Judokas, Lady Judokas, Tiger Jins, and Tiger Paddlers came up successful in defending their thrones against the other contending schools. The Growling Tigers and Lady Jins finished off with both silver medals which led the first batch of Thomasian athletes in their quest for the 40th over-all title trophy.

Keeping the title
Maruja Banaticla and Judy Caballejo dominated the beach volleyball tournament as they swept the elimination round to clinch a rare thrice-to-beat advantage and beat the Paulina Soriano-Sheila Pineda duo in the finals via 2-0 en route to the pair’s second straight crown. Caballejo also bagged the Most Valuable Player plum.

While, Golden Judokas continued to build dynasty in the UAAP judo tournament after both captured the golden title for three and two consecutive years, respectively.

Tiger Judokas registered 51 points for their 3-3-3 gold-silver-bronze production to outscore the University of the Philippines. MVP Al Rolan Llamas and Jon Rodriguez spearheaded the men’s squad by ruling the -60 and -66 kgs. categories.

Lady Judokas tallied for 53 total markers after walking away with 2-2-3 medals to defeat the UP Lady Squad who scored 38 points. Season 75 MVP Jewel de Castro and Dianne Villabos led the group by securing the golds in the +70 and -78 kilogram categories, respectively.

Tiger Jins also flaunted their sharp kicks to take home the UAAP taekwondo championship for the second straight season beating the State U delegates. Season’s crowned MVP Christian Al Dela Cruz and last year’s MVP Dane Pido de Roda headed the squad in their 11th total title.

At the same time, the UST Tiger Paddlers emerged victorious in bagging their third consecutive crown after easily disposing the DLSU Green Paddlers with a 2-0 win. Graduating Thomasian Martin Diaz and fellow paddler Alberto Bazar were deemed the season MVP and Rookie of the Year, respectively.

Short in no.1 spot
The Growling Tigers, led by Coach Pido Jarencio, finished off in second place after suffering a two-game losing streak in the finals against the defending champions, the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Nobody expected that the Growling Tigers would make its appearance in the finals after 6 long years, but because of the hard-work, determination, and desire of the players, the unexpected became a reality. Although they fell short for the gold, being in the finals was already a great achievement for the team.

From fourth to second, the UST Lady Jins clinched the silver medal with a record of 5-1. With only one game behind, UST Lady Jins fell short for the title. Snatching the gold was the DLSU Lady Jins, who waited 14 years to reclaim its crown with an undefeated record of 6-0.

Not our season
The once deemed, five-peat champs with a total of 8 titles, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe remained in the 4th spot for the second consecutive year, losing the spotlight to the University of the Philippines Pep squad. UP equaled UST with their eighth cheerdance crown.

There were also several other events that missed landing in the platform, and ended up settling in fourth, these were the Tiger Sharks and the Tiger Shuttlers.

Junior League
The UST Juniors team ended the first semester of UAAP action with a good note, taking home five medals: 1 gold, 2 silvers, and 2 bronzes which gave them the top spot in the over-all race in the Juniors Division. They garnered a total of 67 points by the end of the first semester, shadowing with only six points behind is the University of the East with a total of 61 points.

The UST Juniors eye on the gold as they try to snatch the trophy for the seventh consecutive year. With only seven sports events left, winning is their only mindset.

Alas, the second semester has begun, the games are about to begin, and once again only the best will remain standing. Will UST rise to the occasion and grab the trophy, or will the Tigers’ dynasty fall?

By Josiah Darren G. Saynes and Karl Cedrick G. Basco

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Tiger Trackster Elbren Neri withdraws from UAAP Season 79

Neri has played for four years for UST and is the UAAP record holder in the 800-meter and 1500-meter run with a time of 1.52.85 and 3.57.22 respectively.

Published

8 years ago

December 3, 2016

Nhuj Pascua

Photo grabbed from Elbren Neri’s Facebook account.

University of Santo Tomas Trackster Elbren Neri withdrew his stint in the upcoming UAAP Season 79 track and field tournament to focus on training for the 29th Southeast Asian Games in August 2017.

“Nagkaroon kasi ng conflict doon sa training ko tsaka sa klase ko. Tapos ‘yung SEA Games kasi malapit na next year na,” Neri told TomasinoWeb via phone interview.

Neri, a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Technology and Livelihood Education student, said he has four major subjects this semester but his subjects cannot be moved to another schedule besides 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“Apat lang sana pero major kaya hindi malipat, tsaka lagi umaga kaya naapektuhan training ko. ‘Pag hindi naman kasi ako makapag-training dito sa national team, ‘pag kunwari bumaba ‘yung performance ko, ‘e tatanggalin ako dito, tsaka hindi ako makakalaro sa SEA Games ‘e ‘yun ‘yung gustong-gusto ko masalihan,”said Neri, who is part of the national team pool in athletics.

The 22-year-old Neri still plans to continue taking his subjects after playing in the SEA Games. “Hindi ko kasi kaya na pagsabayin training ako dito [sa ULTRA] tapos biyabiyahe diyaan sa UST. Tinry ko mga isang buwan nahirapan talaga ako parang hindi nakayanan ng katawan ko.”

In the recently concluded University Games 2016 in Dumaguete City, Elbren bagged two gold medals in the 800-meter and 1500-meter run for UST. However, it was unexpected for the team that it will be his last time to wear a black and gold jersey to represent UST.

“It was unexpected kasi kasama pa namin siya sa UniGames sa Dumaguete. Hindi niya kinaya pagsabayin ‘yung aral at ensayo at mag-focus muna siya sa SEA Games,” UST Track and Field head coach Emmanuel Calipes said via phone interview.

“He is a big loss but I have to respect his decision. Nag-sorry naman siya,” Calipes expressed.

Neri has played for four years for UST and is the UAAP record holder in the 800-meter and 1500-meter run with a time of 1.52.85 and 3.57.22 respectively.

“Mabigat pero wala kailangan mag-move-on. Dadaan lang naman sila ng ilang taon sa UST tapos move on,” Calipes added.

Despite withdrawing in the biggest collegiate event, Elbren has great faith in his teammates to win the championship.

“Good luck sa kanila [UST Tracksters] alam ko namang kayang-kaya nila ‘yan ‘e. Tsaka ayun mag-training lang palagi at ‘wag din silang pabaya din sa aral. Tsaka tiwala lang sila sa sarili nila. Kahit wala naman ako, nagtitiwala ako na kakayanin pa rin nila manalo,” Elbren said.

The UAAP Season 79 track and field tournament schedule is still to be announced but will be held at the ULTRA Track Oval in Pasig City, while the 29th SEA Games will be held on August 19 to 31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nhuj Pascua

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UST junior Tiger Spikers escape NU

The UST Junior Tiger Spikers pulled off a shocker versus NU Junior Bullpups.

Published

8 years ago

November 28, 2016

Nhuj Pascua

The University of Santo Tomas Junior Tiger Spikers earned a hardly-fought victory against the pesky National University Junior Bullpups, 25-22, 11-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-13, in the Game 2 of UAAP Season 79 boys’ volleyball tournament, Sunday, at the Adamson Gym in Manila.

Despite being down at 1-2 in the first three sets, UST were able to bounce back in a dominating fashion as Teo De Guzman tightened their net defense with three consecutive offensive blocks and sparked a 6-0 run, 23-12. Back-to-back error from the Bullpups sealed the equalizer, 25-15.

The Espana-based volleybelles finally sealed the deal in an intense fifth set with a crosscourt kill.

UST Assistant Coach Rommel Abella commended UST’s effort during the last two sets. “Sabi ko sa kanila noong fourth set na relax, hindi tayo nape-pressure dapat kasi we are the challenger. Yung mga players natin nagrelax, at yung resiliency nila nagshow sa fourth and fifth set.”

Lorenz Señeron led the team in scoring with 21 points, followed by Rey De Vega’s 16 points and De Guzman’s 11 points.

Señeron won the best Opposite Spiker, while De Vega was awarded as Best Server and Jaron Requinton received the Second Best Middle Blocker plum.

The hopes for UST Junior Tiger Spikers to finally bring the crown to España will be tested on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the same venue.

Nhuj Pascua

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UST junior Tigresses thwart NU

The UST Junior Lady Tigresses wiped out the hope for another championship of the rampaging NU Junior Lady Bullpups.

Published

8 years ago

November 28, 2016

Nhuj Pascua

The University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Tigresses extended the championship series into a rubber match against National University Junior Bullpups in a well executed four sets, 25-16, 25-21, 21-25, 25-13, making UST the first team to beat NU in the UAAP Season 79 Girls Volleyball Tournament, at the Adamson Gym on Sunday.

The Espana-based spikers dominated the first set as Baby Love Barbon, Genesa Eslapor, Eya Laure and also the rest of the Tigresses dictated the tempo in a 25-16 commanding finish. This momentum continued despite of their errors, especially with Laure’s being the force to be reckoned with, tallying three blocks out of her four point rally in the second set, 25-21.

In the third set, NU was able to capitalize UST’s numerous errors, seven of which were service errors. NU’s newly-awarded MVP, Faith Nisperos, retaliated for her squad to avoid the sweep, 25-21.

Laure continued to do the damage in the Bullpups’ hapless defense as she tallied six points in the fourth and deciding set alone that steered UST to victory, 25-13.

Despite of UST numerous service errors, UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. was still pleased with the win. “Although yung error nandoon pa rin, nananalo kami. Pero ang service error namin sampu sa isang set. Kumukuha kami ng malaking puntos, bago kami magtapon.”

Laure garnered the Best Opposite Spiker plum, while Bernadett Pepito and Baby Love Barbon received the Best Libero and Second Best Open Spiker awards.

The winner-take-all Game 3 for both squads is set on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the same venue.