SPORTS
Rogie R. Sabado Sports Editor
Male Woodpushers take back crown By Rogie R. Sabado
Precise move. Antonio Chavez Jr. executes his deadly strategy against an Adamson Woodpusher. (Photo by Anjanette T. Dee)
Far Eastern University (FEU) Men’s Chess Team regained the crown that vanished on their keeping last year as a striking conclusion to University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 76. Their female counterpart recorded a more modest ending as they finished third overall once more after round 14 of the Chess tournament last February 23 at Enrique Razon Sports Complex, De La Salle University (DLSU), Manila. Despite the victory, Head Coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales cannot hide his regret because this year could have been their eighth straight year of reigning the league. “Nakakapanghinayang. Dapat seven-peat (sic) champions na tayo ngayon because of ‘yung undisciplined players. But somehow, medyo gumanda na ‘yung disiplina nila (It is disappointing. We’re supposed to be seven-time champions [but it did not materialize] because of the undisciplined players.
But somehow, they are more disciplined now),” said Gonzales. FEU’s winning run was halted by the University of Santo Tomas after accumulating 35 points last year, compared to the former’s 33.5-output. With only a 2.5 lead over second-running Adamson University (AdU), 35.5-33, after the 13th round, the Moraytabased squad made sure that history will not repeat itself. The Falcons clawed FEU in round 2 of the tournament, 3-1, but just like a real Tamaraw poised to charge when threatened¸ FEU turned the tables in round 14 to win 3.5-0.5 and keep hold of Adamson in second place while consequently securing their seventh championship in the last eight years. A draw in board 4 is the best Marc Kevin Labog can deliver for AdU against board 5 gold medalist Alfredo Rapanot who also topped the ranking in the men’s division with an 83.3 winning percentage from an 8-40 win-draw loss individual record.
Sports Bites Sambile hailed as UAAP ‘Athlete of the Year’ Team Captain of Far Eastern University Women’s Basketball Team Camille Sambile was named as University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 76 Athlete of the Year last March 19 at Century Park Hotel in Vito Cruz, Manila during the annual closing ceremonies of the league. Sambile shared the honor with Judelyn Fronda of De La Salle University Women’s Chess Team in the seniors’ division. Despite the controversial meltdown of the Lady Tams due to forfeited games, Sambile won the UAAP Most Valuable Player plum in women’s caging with 81.3571 statistical points after averaging 19.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 3.9 steals and 1.6 blocks in this year’s tournament. The 5-foot-9 forward also helped Perlas Pilipinas, the Philippine Women’s Basketball Team, clinch the silver medal in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Maynmar. -Lance Adrian DR. Agcaoili
Former Spikers join RP Team for Asian tourney Three former Tamaraw volleyball stars made the cut in the Philippine Volleyball Teams set to compete for the upcoming Asian Club Volleyball Championship slated this April. Former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 74 Finals Most Valuable Player Rodolfo Labrador Jr. and Jessie Lopez will play alongside actor Richard Gomez (Polytechnic University of the Philippines), Peter Den Mar Torres (National University), Ron Jay Galang (Adamson University), Jayson Ramos and John Paul Torres (University of Santo Tomas [UST]) and Marck Espejo (Ateneo de Manila University). FEU Men’s Volleyball Team Head Coach George Pascua is also a part of the coaching staff of the men’s squad. On the other hand, Rachel Anne Daquis was named team captain of the women’s team composed of Michelle Datuin (De La Salle University), Angeli Tabaquero (UST) and Jovelyn Gonzaga (Central Philippine University), among others. The men’s division will be held in Manila from April 8 to 16 while the women’s division will take place in Nakhonpathom, Thailand from April 17 to 25. -CBC
In board 1, FEU’s Lennon Hart Salgados showed no heart to upend Einnar Marc Reyes and continue the surge for the greenand-gold squad while board 4 gold medalist Antonio Chavez Jr. (10-0-3) followed suit after trumping Jerome Villanueva. Season Most Valuable Player Kevin Mirano outwitted Ali Guya in board 2 where he also earned the gold medal after a 7-2-2 individual performance. “Masaya kami sa panalo na ’to, kasi last year nakuha sa’min ‘yung tropeyo. Lahat kami nagpursige manalo, nagpakita ng magandang laban. Sa awa naman ng Diyos nakuha namin ulit ‘yung tropeyo (We’re happy with this win, because last year the trophy was snagged from us. All of us worked hard to win [and] gave a good fight. With God’s mercy, we have reclaimed the trophy again),” shared Mirano. Though not as dominant as their male counterpart, FEU Women’s Chess Team remained in the medal group following a 9-1-4 team tally for a total of 37 points—a point shy from silver medallists Lady Maroons who accumulated 38 points from 10 wins, a draw and three loses. DLSU (13-1-0), anchored by season MVP Jan Jodilyn Fronda, defended their title for the fourth consecutive year with a whopping 44 points. “Kahit ‘di kami nag
champion alam naman namin na binigay na namin lahat ng effort namin tsaka nag-ensayo kaming mabuti sa game na ’to (Even though we weren’t champions we all know we gave our best efforts; we trained hard for this game),” shared Team Captain Nikki Erica Yngayo. “Maybe hindi pa ito ‘yung time namin na magchampion. Siguro may mga improvements pa kami na gagawin (Maybe this is not yet our time to be champions. Maybe we still have improvements to do),” the board 5 silver medalist continued. “We’re very happy because this serves as redemption and formidability to the unexpected loss of our team and that makes us more mature, responsible and grateful to the Lord,” Gonzales furthered regarding the overall performance of his squad. Last year’s Rookie of the Year Janelle Mae Frayna continued to flaunt her dominant form to win the gold medal in board 2. The 2013 Southeast Asian Games Philippine delegate recorded 12 wins and drop only two matches while Venice Vicente pocketed bronze in board 1.
‘Treble’ maker...from page 16
ninth title in the league. “From first game pa lang, binigay na nila ang lahat nila. (Since the first game, they give it their all),” said Dimzon. “Ito ‘yung pinakamagandang result na binigay nila (This is the best result that they showed),” Dimzon proudly shared. In the junior’s division, where most players in the Men’s Team came from, FEU Baby Tamaraws blanked Ateneo in game 2 to sweep the best-ofthree finals series and retain the crown for the fourth straight season last March 1. FEU stunned the Eaglets in game one, 4-1. Janryl Balanueco and Earl Laguerta took the MVP and Rookie of the Year honors while teammates Gilbert Mendoza and Dominique Canonigo were named Best Striker and Best Midfielders, respectively.
champion strengthened their midfield and defense, especially the backcentral, to minimize the goal opportunities of the Españabased squad. After a couple of failed attempts, Sharmaine Siaotong broke the ice and notched the game-changing goal in the 20th minute, 1-0, after a cutback save from Best Midfielder and Best Attacker Barbie Sobredo in the right flank. Alesa Dolino scored in the 57th minute from a corner kick to further down the Lady Maroons, 2-0. UST tried to made a quick counter attack after getting a corner of their own but it was immediately cleared by the Lady Tams. With only two minutes remaining in the regular period, Marice Magdolot refused to throw the towel as she struck from nine yards, 2-1. However, it’s the best UST can get as FEU pulled a fullpressed defense to annex their Lady Tams...from page 16
hit which tie the game at oneset apiece. FEU started slow in the first set but Pons’ clutch hits and errors from the Lady Stag delivered the first canto to FEU. Head Coach Shaq Delos Santos will lean on reserve setter Yna Louise Papa, who had an impressive performance with 30 excellent sets, after veteran playmaker Gyzelle Sy decided to skip the season to focus on her studies. Incoming rookie Basas contributed 11 points from seven attacks and four aces while second reinforcement Jerrili Malabanan, who only started
-With reports from Ryniel John B. Berlanga
-With reports from Ryniel John B. Berlanga
training with the team couple of weeks ago, has yet to play. FEU, grouped with defending champion National University (NU), University of Santo Tomas, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, SSC-R, and Davao All-Star in Pool B, currently holds the second spot with a 1-0 win-loss card behind NU’s 2-0 record. FEU’s best finish in the tournament was in the second conference of Season 6 where they bagged the bronze medal in a five-setter game against the same team, SSC-R Lady Stags. -Christian B. Corales
March-April 20141115
Carry on
The worse part in goodbye is not about saying it, but being told to. This is a doer and receiver action: saying it means you are ready to move on or something better in the horizon is waiting for you; being told to connotes you are stuck with everything you have to endure and that moving on is only a consequential result of them doing so. Now, if you would choose: will you rather say it or prefer to hear it? Many may opt to just utter such depressing word because at first, it seems easier. Little did we know that it entails courage—lots of courage—to mean it wholeheartedly without any sign of regret. When you say ‘goodbye’ to someone or something you’ve been attached to for years, be sure to be brave enough to embrace all its consequences: from teary eyes, to broken hearts and shattered souls. This is the reason I don’t want to be the say-goodbyekind-of-guy for it will be like what Rajesh Koothrappali said and felt when he asked Amy Farrah Fowler for an advice in his lovelife and what she continued to say are sheer nonsense: “Your words fall like acid rain in the wounded petals of my heart.” Consciously or unconsciously, it is inevitable that someone will get hurt. Goodbye, no matter how many ‘good’ is attached in it, when said, is meant to work that way. On the other hand, there will also be these individuals who would choose to listen. They will want to cry and show how devastated they are, but they won’t…and should not. If they do, they will also be saying goodbye, not through words, but with their actions. Now, as I begin a new chapter in my life full of goodbyes from persons who have been a part of the past two years of my being, I will not say goodbye. Instead, see you soon. *** How fast time flies. My first column just got published and here I am, writing my last. But before everything ends, I would like to thank the following persons for “always being there.” To IIustrado Inc., our friendship may have hit its all time low but seeing you once a week in the hallways of Science Building or even once a month wherever we are given a chance to see each other makes me feel I still have friends to share this microscope-here-syringe-there-blood-everywhere journey. My FEU Advocate Sports family: CAGS and LJSB, PAAV and JAGE; CBC, LADRA, RJBB and KLRM, thank you for the opportunity to learn and to teach. And of course, my brothers EJLB and RJLG, the road we took may be the roughest, but I’m grateful we all held on. And I sincerely hope we continue to. Kapit lang, sabi nga. To the entire Editorial Board 2013-2014, especially to Kuya Jerome for doing the extra hustle when Sports was in its most vulnerable state, thank you for the three months of life changing experiences. It was a roller coaster ride but heck, what fun ride it is. Photos, I really want to hate your section, but I can’t. Despite the ‘PNY’ shots you sometimes (or always?) gave us, I know that the bond, professionally and personally, that Sportos has created goes beyond that. Ate Nikky, I hope our secret remain as a secret for as long as we are breathing and remember: I’m always here to help. Ate KC, everything became the complete opposite of what we’ve planned but I’m contented now with the outcome. I may look unappreciative at times (or most of the time?) but I guarantee you, I’m beyond grateful for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. For now, this is all. Carry on. Everything about life is axiomatic. Common sense will be served at rogiesabado@gmail.com for free.
Tams collapse...from page 16
playing year to get revenge. However, at the start of the season, there are only three players left in the Season 74 championship team of FEU, namely, Faytaren, Team Captain Karl Dela Calzada and setter Manolo Refugia, who are now set to leave the green-andgold land. Rising action began upon learning that FEU, as expected, fielded a talented group of rookies led by Dolor, open spikers Joshua Barrica and Jeric Gacutan and middle blocker Bautista. At one point, the Tamaraws even held a 9-2 win-loss record and was in great position to secure the second spot until the climax approached. FEU closed the elimination round with a three-game losing streak, dropped to third place before the semis then eventually lost to second-seeded Ateneo. The Katipunanbased squad, a team who swept the second round elimination led by this season’s MVP and Rookie of the Year Espejo, was the underdogs for years. In fact, the gamewinning block of ADMU wasn’t a simple block. It marked their first trip to the
Finals in the history of UAAP Men’s Volleyball. On the other hand, for the Morayta-based squad, the block signaled their first exit in the finals for the first time in five years. “Masakit. Ganito pala feeling nang hindi makapasok sa finals (It hurts. I think this is what it feels like not to be in the finals),” said Faytaren, who was in the championship in his first four years of stay and even got a title on his third year in the league. “Based d’un sa nakita ko sa kanila, sa training nila at sa skills nila, ‘di sila deserving mag third (Based on what I saw with them, with their training and their skills, they don’t deserve to be third),” Pascua said. Pascua furthered the steps he needs to take as they search for the stories’ resolution. “Patibayin ’yung programa namin; mas palalakihin pa namin ‘yung lineup kasi, ngayon, kung titignan mo, mas malalaki na rin ‘yung kalaban (Strengthen our program; we will make our lineup taller because, right now, if you will look, the opponents are also taller).” -Robert Jon L. Garcia