The Varsitarian

LEAVING their dismal first-round performance behind, the UST Lady Spikers repulsed a stubborn Ateneo de Manila University squad in a four-set thriller, 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, at The Arena in San Juan last Jan. 15.

With the win, UST (5-3) is now just a game behind Ateneo (6-2), which is at second place.

Maruja Banaticla, one of four Lady Spikers who finished in double figures, sparkled with 15 points for UST. She kept Ateneo’s defense off-balanced with her cross-court kills.

 “We’re still vying for that second spot, and maybe even the top, since these rankings will give an advantage come the Final Four,” coach Odjie Mamon said. read more »

THE UST Lady Booters toppled a hapless De La Salle University squad, 1-0, while the Golden Booters settled for a 1-1 draw against La Salle’s men’s team in their respective UAAP matches at the Ateneo de Manila University football field last Jan 19.

Ace midfielder and national player Jowe-Ann Barruga sealed the game for UST in the 45th minute with a header that went over goalkeeper’s Hannah Ibarra outstretched arms.

The winning effort was Barruga’s way of making up for his absence in the Lady Booters’ pre-season training due to academic commitments.

“I wanted to show that I could still keep up with my teammates despite missing training,” she said in Filipino after the game. read more »

THE UST Golden Sox kept their momentum going, scoring back-to-back victories while their female counterparts dropped their third game, in separate duels at the Rizal Stadium in Manila.

Defending champions Golden Sox scored their second win in a row against Adamson University, 12-7, last Jan. 19, four days after overwhelming the University of the Philippines, 9-4.

Gerald Mitra’s ground ball on top of the last inning gave reigning MVP Nikko Reyes and Christian Mercado an easy run to erect a 12-7 lead and ensure victory for UST.

Playing his first season, Mercado stepped up and nailed a left fielder that allowed Season 73 Rookie of the Year Arvin Plaza to the home plate early that inning. read more »

Defending champion UST Male Tennisters ended a two-game losing streak by walloping a listless Ateneo de Manila University squad, 4-1, in their first-round encounter at the Rizal Tennis Court in Manila last Jan. 15.

UST is at fourth place behind pace-setter University of the Philippines (UP) and National University (NU) and De La Salle University, which are at second and third places, respectively.

“It’s nice that we won, but if you look into Ateneo’s line up they’re not that strong,” said head coach Gabby Remigio. “A better test is the game that we will have with La Salle next week.” read more »

IT WAS a bittersweet affair for the UST Woodpushers as they chalked in contrasting performances at the Far Eastern University Technology Building last Jan. 15.

The second-seeded Male Woodpushers dominated sixth-seeded University of the East (UE), 4-0, while their female counterparts lost the Ateneo de Manila University, 1.5-2.5.

The UST quartet of Gerald Ferriol, Patrick Florendo, Albert Florendo, and Steven Dacanay thumped UE, the day after the team was held to a 2-2 draw against the University of the Philippines. read more »

HE PROVED that jersey number 13 is lucky. Now, it is hanged for good.

The UST Golden Sox recently “retired” the jersey number of the late baseball legend and Golden former coach Teodulo “Lefty” Viray, who died last month at the age of 91 due to cardiac arrest.

Besides his numerous achievements as a player and later coach, Viray became famous for striking out baseball legend Babe Ruth during an exhibition match in Manila.

In a simple ceremony led by Golden Sox coach Jeffrey Santiago and other former UST sluggers last Dec. 27, Viray was remembered as the greatest baseball player that ever graced the Philippine infield.  read more »

IN A SMALL corner at the rather crowded UST field, a team is competing for space. Not to mention the more important objective of the Tiger University Seals, a flag football team composed of Thomasians, to be officially recognized by school authorities.

As things stand, the squad can’t carry UST’s name, a frustration for a group seeking acclaim for their alma mater.

Thus, explains why the team had to make do with the Tiger moniker.

“We cannot carry the name ‘UST’ because we are not an official sports club of the University,” club president Mel Calletor said. read more »

FROM a second runner-up finish last season, the UST Male Fencers emerged as this year’s champions while their female counterparts dropped to fifth place following separate duels at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last Dec. 5.

The Male Fencers' 3-0-2 gold-silver-bronze medal tally overwhelmed Far Eastern University's collection of two gold medals, a silver, and four bronze medals.

“Lahat ng laban ngayon pantay-pantay, at sabi ko sa kanila (male fencers) lakasan lang loob nila,” men’s team coach Emerson Segui said. “Fortunately, nag-jive lahat.” read more »

After opening the season with two consecutive losses, the Lady Spikers nailed their second straight victory at the expense of cellar-dwellers University of the Philippines (UP), 22-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-18, at the Arena in San Juan last Dec. 11.

The UST Tiger Spikers clobbered the Ateneo de Manila University, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18, the day before to score their third straight win.

Maika Ortiz led the Lady Spikers’ fiery offense in the last set to tie the count at 16-apiece. Carmela Tunay joined the frenzy and ignited a 6-0 blitz to jack up the lead, 23-17. read more »

DEFENDING champion Faculty of Engineering and the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM) arranged a finals duel after thrashing their respective opponents in the semi-final round of this year’s Thomasian Goodwill basketball games.

Engineering easily defeated archrival College of Education in lopsided fashion, 113-70, while CTHM stunned an erstwhile undefeated Faculty of Arts and Letters, 73-69, at the P. Noval basketball court last Dec. 10.

“Actually, blessing in disguise yung pagkatalo namin sa kanila (Artlets)nung eliminations,” CTHM head coach Jeric Martinez said. “Nawala yung egonamin at yabang, at naging chance namin yun (the loss)para mag-ayos.” read more »