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 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.

The University of Santo Tomas Tiger Judokas have dominated the mats once again as they completed a grand slam in the UAAP season 79 Judo Championships at the De La Salle-Zobel Sports Pavilion in Muntinlupa City Sunday.

The Tiger Judokas notched a win in the men’s, women’s, boys’, and girls’ division to successfully grab all the championship trophy in all four divisions.

The Golden Judokas took home the gold and silver medals in the -55kg category. Daryl Mercado bagged the gold while Russel Lorenzo finished in second.

Veteran Al Llamas made a statement in the -60kg as he finished the match with an armbar to grab the gold medal finish.

Czar Bayas settled for bronze in the -66kg category by defeating Edward Borja via rear-naked choke.

Tiger Daryl Mercado won the Most Valuable Award in the men’s division.

In the women’s division, Eunice Lucero managed to seal a victory against UE’s Patricia Rosario in the -63kg.

Aislynn Yap fell short in her championship bout as she settled for silver in the -70kg.

Jamaica Ponciano won bronze in the -78kg category. Renielyn Castillo also took silver in the category.

Ana Bernardino also surrendered to ADMU’s Seanne Cheung to give her the silver in the +78kg.

“Napakaworth it para sa kanila( women’s division), para sa men’s, para sa juniors, lahat naman pinagdaanan nila yung hirap. Sobrang sarap at sobrang saya.” UST Women’s head coach Gerard Arce said.

With the win, the women’s division took home it’s third straight championship in the tournament.

The Juniors division also took home the goods in the boys and girls with the back-to-back championship.

The boys’ division finished with 43 points while La Salle Zobel’s 39. The girls division also stood out strong with 65 points.

Aaron Reyes and Krizza Amisola took home the MVP crown for the juniors. “Talagang pinaghirapan [nila] talaga, alam kong gustong gusto nila, Kaya nakuha nila.” Juniors head coach Mike De Vera said.

UST is the only team to record a grand slam twice in the UAAP. The last time they won in all divisions was in Season 75.