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By AIRON B BUENVENIDA Volleybelle Jovelyn Gonzaga, a proud product of Central Philippine University (CPU), tearfully received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum at the conclusion of the 10th Shakey’s V-League Open Conference at San Juan City, October 15. Gonzaga, who joined the Lady Troopers of the Philippine Army last June bested veterans of the open conference which fired off of last August 18, with eight teams vying for supremacy in the country’s premiere volleyball league. “I did not expect it. I don’t really care about the [game] stats, I just go out and play. That is why I was really shocked when my name was called [for the award],” Gonzaga shared. A newbie and the youngest member of the team, 21-year-old Gonzaga delivered a remarkably powerful performance averaging twenty points a game. Copping also the Best Attacker award, Gonzaga had efficiently served as the utility attacker (spiker) of the Lady Troopers specializing in both quick and open attacks. Aside from smashing some kills, her 5’9’’ and lean
physical frame makes her also a good blocker. “That too (the Best Attacker award) never crossed my mind because I have so many tough contenders,” Gonzaga said. “To name those, they are UAAP and NCAA graduates and some were former MVP’s and awardees of different tournaments,” she overwhelmingly added. Gonzaga made her Shakey’s V-League debut in 2009 as a guest player for the University of St. La Salle (USLS), Bacolod. Volleybelle from Central One can hardly tell her rise is meteoric. Before her one year training at the Philippine Army, Jovelyn Gonzaga or Jovz as her friends fondly call her,was already a volleyball phenom of the University. A native of Jordan,Guimaras, Gonzaga was on her sophomore years in high school representing their province in a regional meet when coach Lemuel Gardose first saw through what she could be capable of if trained. She was absorbed by the CPU HS team the year after. Gonzaga continued her tertiary education in the University as a varsity
player while concurrently enrolled in the program of Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Music Arts Physical Education and Health. She became an invaluable asset gearing the CPU team to give a fight in national competitions. “She is a flexible and intelligent player,” said Anthony Arnilla, the college coach of volleyball team, who was not quite surprised at all when Gonzaga received the MVP plum as he believed that she is of different caliber. “She could get far and she could even succeed in the international arena,” added Arnilla who is very much proud of what Gonzaga has been achieving. A step nearer to her coach’s dream, Gonzaga, together with her CPU teammate Fiola Ceballos, represented Philippines in the Universaide Games Beach Volleyball tournament at Kazan, Russia last July. Bringing all these accolades for the University, Gonzaga was invited to be the torch bearer of the University for the upcoming PRISAA on December. After her training at Philippine Army, Gonzaga shall go back to CPU to finish her degree.
GONZAGA
University adopts new official athletics nickname Photo by: Edwin Laru-an
By IAN JAN N. DALISAY
WINNING GOAL Players from the Golden Lions offer their teammate, Joshua Supeña, a group hug after he scored the goal that made them champs.
Golden Lions roar as ISSA Football Champs 1-0 against JBLFMU By RHICK LARS T. ALBAY In what built up to be a 2-game match, the first ending in a draw, the CPU Golden Lions beat John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University’s Dolphins, emerging as the Iloilo Schools Sports Association’s 2013 Men’s Football Champion. After defeating the lineups of the Western Institute of Technology and the University of San Agustin in the preliminaries, the Central Philippine University’s Golden Lions Men’s
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Football Team went head to head with JBLFMU’s Dolphins for the ISSA Football Championship. The first of two games held at the Lapaz Plaza Football Field on September 9, 2013 finished with a 0 – 0 draw, both teams strongly keeping their ground and guarding their posts. The tie was eventually settled with a second game held last Sept. 12. During the second game, CPU’s Golden Lions quickly gained the upper hand with athlete Joshua Supeña scoring a goal during the first half of the
competition. John B. Lacson’s attempts at countering with a goal of their own were thwarted by CPU’s strong defensive. At the end of the match, with CPU’s Supeña scoring the lone goal, JBLFMU at 0, the Golden Lions were declared the champion, proving that their team roared the loudest. The CPU Golden Lions Men’s Football Team, an all-filipino lineup of Cerntralian students, is the official varsity team of the University. It is headed by Coach Bob Javellana and Assistant Coach Mike Tan.
Central Philippine University Sports and Athletics Department has finally chosen a new, official sports nickname— the Golden Lions. The University Board of Trustees on September 6 accepted the recommendation from the CPU Athletics Department that chose Golden Lions. The University teams had spent the past years competing without a nickname. “With the CPU Sports having a mascot, it’s now time that students and athletes have something to look on,” CPU Athletic Director Atty. Alejandro Somo said. In the past few years, CPU sports teams used different unofficial nicknames such as the Centralians and the Golden Eagles. Atty. Somo said the choice was made between Eagles and Lions and since Eagles has been already known to represent Ateneo in Manila and University of San Agustin in West Visayas, the Board of Trustees selected Lions over the Eagles.
In defense of the ‘Lions’ proposal, the athletic director cited mostly Bible verses and one of which states, “The lion, mighty among beasts, does not retreat from anyone.” “Having the athletic mascot for CPU Sports, we expect that students and athletes will unite under one emblem,” the athletic director said in his final statement during the interview. He also added that the CPU Athletics will soon release CPU Lions Athletics apparel for sale to the Centralian community.
Photo from: Yahoo Sports
Gonzaga notches V-League MVP Award