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.

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.

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.