The Varsitarian

IT WAS a dream half a century in the making.

But everything was worth the wait as the UST Softbelles finally ended an era of fruitless campaigns after unseating defending champions Adamson University, in an 8-3 pre-valentine brawl last February 13 at the UST open field. This was the team’s first ever championship tiara in UAAP softball history since the league’s conception in 1953.

A tournament sweep merits an automatic championship and as UST bulldozed the competition with a 10-0 slate, not even the defending champions stood on the way of their softball crown.

“The jinx is over and there’s no more curse,” said the teary-eyed coach Sandy Barredo. “I just told them to focus on the game and not to be pressured.” read more »

The UST Male Fencers kissed their grand slam bid goodbye after bowing to the University of the East (UE).

The team finished Season 71 hostilities last February 4 to 6 with a 2-2-1 medal haul at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym. “[The University of the East (UE)] just really fielded in a stronger line-up this season,” head coach Arman Bernal said in Filipino.

UST ostensibly missed the services of Season 70 Most Valuable Player Jose Miguel Cagalingan and two-time champion Arnel Bernal, who have played out their eligibility years. read more »

FOR THE fifth consecutive season, the UST Female Tracksters were denied the championship by top contender Far Eastern University (FEU) in the Season 72 UAAP Track and Field Games last February 4 to 7 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

UST’s 253 points from an 11-5-5 gold-silver-bronze output was not enough to dethrone “seven-peat” titlist FEU, which was comfortably ahead with 304 points. University of the East (UE) settled at third place with 106 points.

But the Tracksters, the 2009 University Games champions, did not go home broke with virtuoso performances in the individual arena. Rookie of the Year Serenata Saluan, who bagged the Most Valuable Player plum in her maiden year, accounted for seven out of UST’s 10 gold medals.  read more »

PLAYING with a twice-to-beat advantage, the Tiger Spikers pulverized Adamson University, 25-19, 25-22, 25-17, in the UAAP Men’s Volleyball tournament last February 10 at The Arena in San Juan.

UST was so dominant that it fielded second-stringers as early as the first set and still managed to mow down Adamson.

Despite UST’s string of unforced errors in the third canto, Adamson fell back because of Henry Pecaña’s back-to-back quick kills. Ray Karl Dimaculangan two service aces of his own.

The opposing squad relied on smooth receptions to convert 24 out of 65 attempts, but the Tigers neutralized this with solid blocks to smother Adamson’s hope for victory. read more »

THE GOLDEN Booters are poised to claim a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four with a tournament-leading 17 markers, a point ahead of second-running Far Eastern University.

The point total is courtesy of UST’s five wins and two draws, their latest conquest being a 3-2 manhandling of University of the East (UE) last February 10 at the Ateneo de Manila University Erenchun field.

“Everybody in the team is stepping up, delivering a good performance every game,” coach Marjo Allado said. “But we need to win our next games to play for the championship. The 17 points we have right now are still not enough.” read more »

FOR THE España army, love was not the only cause for celebration last Valentine’s Day.

Bouncing back from a disappointing bridesmaid finish last year, the UST Male Tennisters returned with a vengeance this time around to end as champions, punctuating their dominance with an 8-0 sweep.

The Tennisters authored a 4-1 season-ender, dethroning defending champion De La Salle University last February 14 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court.

“I was not expecting anything from this team, I thought we’d end up second,” coach Karl Sta. Maria said. “It was their heart that really took us to victory.” read more »

ARE THOMASIANS ready for the “Super Bowl?”

A group of Thomasians enamored with American football is trying to introduce the game on campus with the goal of forming a UST-wide team, a first in the country.

“We were influenced to play the sport by our Fil-Am friends headed by Ryan Go,” said Leo Montalvo, one of the instigators of the sport in the University. “We contacted them three years ago to play with them.” The encounter with the Fil-Am group inspired them to introduce the sport in UST.

This contact sport involves a lot of highly physical moves where teams tackle each other in order to bring the ball called “pigskin” to the opponent’s end zone. read more »

DETERMINED to book a championship ticket this time around, the UST Male Tennisters essayed back-to back wins in the ongoing Season 72 lawn tennis tournament to stay on top with a 5-0 win-loss slate.

UST swept the luckless University of the Philippines (UP) for its second straight victory last January 10 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Court.

UST’s Miguel Narvaez emerged victorious over James Pang after a three-hour battle that ended at 7-6, 5-7, 6-4. In the doubles match, the black-gold-white tandem of Ryan Montalbo and Gerard Pinili subdued Dennis Vitaliano and Julian Mendoza with a 6-3, 6-2 win.

Season 70 Rookie of the Year Raymond Villarete contributed to UST’s cause with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Justine Echague in the second singles clash. read more »

THE GREEN Archers are closing in, threatening to erase the Tigers’ slim 17-thin point lead at the end of the first semester and deny UST another UAAP general championship. UST’s fate now rests on 14 Tigers squads, three of which are defending their respective crowns against vastly improved opponents.

Here are the Varsitarian’s predictions on how the Tigers would perform in the final seven events.

Tiger Spikers

Last Season: Champion

Prediction: Champion read more »

THE UST Tiger Spikers punctuated their dominance of the first round, trouncing the University of the Philippines (UP) squad, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22, last January 13 at The Arena, San Juan.

UST finished the eliminations tied with the Far Eastern University with a similar 6-1 win-lose slate.

John Paul Torres and Henry Pecaña delivered 22 and 14 attack points, respectively, to help UST conquer the Maroons.

“Though we now lead the standings, with one loss, I am still not contented with the team’s level of performance,” coach Emil Lontoc said. “But we are eagerly preparing for the second round to improve our game.” read more »