The Varsitarian

IT WAS a payback four years in the making.

After a heartbreaking loss to season favorite Ateneo Blue Eagles, the Growling Tigers got their momentum back at the expense of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, in a 92-88 seesaw chase last July 25, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

It was UST’s first win over UE since an 82-81 decision in the Final Four of 2006, the same season when the Tigers won the championship over perennial rivals Ateneo.

Winning against UE catapulted UST on the top of the team standings, tying with Ateneo with a similar 3-1 win-lose slate. The Blue Eagles received an unlikely loss, 58-68 courtesy of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last July 26.

“We were able to prepare and execute the right defense and offense tailored-fit to the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent,” coach Pido Jarencio said about their UE match.

Tigers’ ace gunner Dylan Ababou erupted for 28 points and seven rebounds while Khasim Mirza contributed 20 points and six boards.

UST big man Christopher Camus also had his share of the spotlight as he registered a “double-double” figure of 12 markers. read more »

THE FIRST round just became even sweeter for the Tiger Cubs.

Marching to their fourth straight victory in the season, the Cubs thwarted the Adamson University Baby Falcons, 74-60, to stay unscathed, at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan last July 25.

Wanting to erase last year’s stigma of faltering during the fourth game, the Cubs came out confident in their face-off against Adamson even leading by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter, 62-47, courtesy of Cederick Labing-isa’s steady shooting.

“It was a hard-fought game for us. They played a little tensed because they are bothered by last year’s experience,” coach Allan Ascue said.

A 6-0 opening salvo gave UST an early advantage, bolstered by a resounding dunk from Kyle Neypes, 12-7, going into the final two minutes of the period. read more »

THE ERRATIC Tigresses absorbed their second loss in three outings, bowing to the UP Lady Maroons, 44-55, at the Philsports Arena last July 25.

Despite playing solid defense, the Tigresses didn’t take care of the ball well against the Lady Maroons, which was pretty much the story of behind the 33-56 drubbing they got in the hands of the defending champion Far Eastern University.

Against UP, the Tigresses committed 33 turnovers, which the Lady Maroons converted into 24 points.

“They had good defense but their composure was lost because they were rushing,” coach Julie Amos said. “They were still half-hearted during the game and forgot to look for mismatches.”

The first half was close with UST leading 25-23. But passing errors in the third quarter allowed UP to gain the upperhand, 36-32.  read more »

THOMASIAN athletes now have every reason to go “home” after a hard day’s work.

Their new home, the GMG Active Dormitory, has gotten an upgrade, befitting top-class athletes who have made UST perennial UAAP champions.

Surveillance cameras were installed in each floor to ensure the security of the entire dormitory, which currently houses 199 athletes.

This way, the management can efficiently monitor the situation inside the premises.

Upon the University’s request, grills were also constructed around the building to prevent thieves from climbing up the walls of the dorm. There’s also an ample number of security guards.

Besides the strict security arrangements, athletes are also served three meals a day, free of charge. A new cook was hired, supervised by his predecessor, to ensure that no substandard food is served. read more »

AS CHAMPAGNE poured into the San Miguel Beermen dug-out, the limelight dwelled on a former UST Growling Tiger spitfire and now San Miguel head coach Bethune “Siot” Tanquincen.

He steered the country’s winningest ballclub in the 2009 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Motolite Fiesta Cup to its 18th championship crown, snapping the Beermens’ four-year title dry spell last July 17 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I told the players before Game 6 that God gives opportunities. It is how you respond to these opportunities that will define you as a person and as a team, said Tanquincen, whose team bounced back from a 2-3 finals series en route to a classic fairytale sequel.

Incidentally, the dagger went straight into the heart of his former squad, crowd-favorites Barangay Ginebra Kings, the same team he led to the “Promised Land” during the 2004 PBA Gran Matador Fiesta Conference. read more »

AS THEIR rebuilding stage progresses, the UST Golden Booters kicked off their pre-season tune ups with a morale-boosting 2-0 opener against De La Salle-Lipa in the Ang Liga Football Cup last July 26 at the San Beda College football field.

“We don’t have many problems in our offense and defense. The players just need more experience and exposure,” said Golden Booters’ head coach Marjo Allado. “Our ball movement is good but we still need to look into how we finish.”

The ball rolled inside UST’s bailiwick for most of the game, showing a more offensive-minded squad throughout the duel.

The defensive wit of De La Salle-Lipa goalkeeper Gregg Atijon was tested for the nth time, with UST firing a series of attempts to the goal. Finally, Golden Booter Mandy Lunag sidestepped countless La Salle defenders to unleash a fiery kick, giving UST a vital one-point advantage as the ball kissed the net at the 24th minute of the first half. read more »

WE OFTEN see them every Sunday, standing behind the altar and celebrating the Mass.

But have you ever wondered how a priest spends the rest of the week, once he gives his final blessing and utters the words “the Mass is ended”?

A priest’s duty does not end with the Sunday service. The Eucharistic celebration is central to his life as an alter Christus, a visible representation of Christ. But much is expected of him.

The vocation demands constant and visible presence, from Sundays when he celebrates Mass until the wee hours of the morning when an emergency calls for his service.

“If there is a person who should make you feel the presence of Christ, it should be the priest,” said Fr. Manuel Lamprea, Jr., parish priest of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Batac, Ilocos Norte. read more »

STANDING beside a bedridden old man while compressing his artificial breathing mask wasn’t my idea of spending that sunny July afternoon. While other students in the campus were enjoying the great weather outside, I was stuck inside a cold hospital room, monitoring the old man.

He could not turn, speak, or open his eyes fully. His grave condition made it difficult for him to even breathe on his own will. In the field where life and death is a day to day matter, I was ironically afraid that he might lose his life anytime soon. But after seeing how his nurses dealt with his condition with utmost care, I felt assured that this man was in good hands. At that point, I once again began to wonder if I was in the right path like them. read more »

“CHARITY is at the heart of Church’s social doctrine.”

This was Pope Benedict XVI’s reminder in his new Encyclical Caritas in Veritate (“Charity in Truth”) delivered last July 7 in Vatican City.

The document stressed the need for real human development, insisting on progress in the moral and spiritual realms.

“Charity with this close link of truth is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity,” the Pope said.

According to the Holy Father, charity had long been emptied and misconstrued, its meaning often misinterpreted, disconnected from ethical living, and undervaluated. With these alarming issues obscuring the true meaning of charity, he prescribed “truth” as a cure for these problems. read more »

TILA malalakas na hataw ng tambol ang tibok ng aking puso sa kaba. Malamig ang panahon pero pinagpapawisan ako at maging ang mga kamay ko ay walang tigil sa panginginig. Para bang bumabaliktad ang aking sikmura at masusuka ako.

Lalong bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso nang makita ko ang mahabang kamay ng orasan na papalapit sa numerong 12. Limang minuto na lang pala bago mag alas-otso.

Umalingawngaw ang tunog ng bell sa buong koridor. Habang nagsisipasukan na sa kanilang silid-aralan ang ibang estudyante, nanatili akong nakatayo sa labas ng aming kuwarto.

“Tan, tara na. Magsisimula na ang eksam,” sabi ng matalik kong kaibigang si Bert.

Bago pumasok ay bumulong muna ako ng maikling panalangin. Bahala na, sabi ko sa sarili ko. Suntok sa buwan ang gagawin kong pagpasok sa loob. read more »