I n c h i n g c los e r t o f inal s
Tams disarm Warriors By Cindy Ashley G. Sy and Eryl Justine L. Bacnis
Seeking for another title contention this season, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws showed why they are the defending champion as they continue their streak of outlasting their opponents in the 75th Season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Volleyball Tournament. FEU Tamaraws managed to sweep the gutsy University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, three sets to none, 25-15, 25-23 and 25-19 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City last February 3.
Power of tactics. Spiker Arvin Avila outsmarts the UE Red Warriors with a dropshot to extend their win. (Photo by Kevin Victor J. Torres)
Lady Booters continue surge in UAAP After seizing the sololead at the end of the first round of eliminations, Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Booters keep on charging past their opponents that led them to secure the first finals slot in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 75 Women’s Football Tournament. FEU registered twin victories against second-seeded Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), 3-0, and cellardweller University of the Philippines (UP), 3-1, last January 27 and February 3, respectively, at the Ocampo Field inside the Ateneo campus in Quezon City. As of press time, the Lady Tamaraws are sitting pretty on top with 4-3-0 win-draw-loss card (15 points), chasing them are the Lady Eagles and Lady Tigresses both with 3-2-2 win-draw-loss card (11 points).
Eye on the prize Their hard work paid-off with Alesa Dolino and Jessa Sumagpao starting the kickfest for FEU after their aggressive attacks inside UP’s penalty box resulting to two free kicks and a corner kick. The Morayta-based squad made the first finisher courtesy of Sumagpao’s swift attack in the 14th minute. The action hangs-on as the Maroons continue to fight, but not enough to win their first goal, while FEU already had five more goal attempts before halftime. With their continuous control on the phase of the game, substitute Charmaine Fagaragan buried a goal after a blink of an eye followed by another perfect shot from Barbie Sobredo to give the green-and-gold a 3-0 cushion. Three minutes after the goal of Sobredo, the Maroons retaliated through Marsha Nackaerts, 3-1, giving them some room to breathe. Another cheer of the maroon crowd boosted UP’s
aggressive, but everything seemed to be too late with the referee blowing the final whistle. “Actually pinagprepare-an talaga namin ‘yung game namin sa UP dahil ‘yung game na ito ‘yung magdi-dictate sa ‘min for finals. Kapag manalo kami sa game na ito, pasok na kami sa finals (We really prepared well for our game against UP because it will dictate our status for the finals. If we win this, we officially secure our spot),” head coach Marnelli Dimzon revealed. Blow-out victory In their game against Ateneo, the Lady Booters established their well-orchestrated offense since the kickoff, giving the Lady Eagles’ defense a run for their money. After a few minutes of passing the ball around, the Lady Booters seemed to wear the defense of Ateneo
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Hard-fought mind game
Woodpushers stay on top For a game that requires the right strategy, putting up and moving the fragile pieces together are the keys in achieving longterm goals. A single move creates a thin line of making or breaking it. As for the Far Eastern University (FEU) Men’s and Women’s Chess Team, focus was both the weapon and the lacking element as they fired up the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 75 Championship bid last February 3 at the FEU Te c h n o l o g y Building Mini Auditorium. Luck did not side the six-peat champions Men’s division when they faced University of the East (UE). Two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sheider
Race to the crown. FEU Woodpushers check their opponents for a seven peat this season. (Photo by Marione Paul G. Infantado)
Nebato led the onset and overwhelmed UE’s John Paul Cruz, 1-0 but Team Captain
John Ranel Morazo, veteran Alfredo Rapanot and Richeliu Salcedo III were denied by their
Sweeping to the top The Spikers seemed to have lost their focus almost throughout the game as they committed a total of 27 unforced errors, thus nearly failing to dominate against UE. John Ian Depamaylo led the Tamaraws’ offense with a team high 15 points with 14 kills. Helping him out were Karl Dela Calzada and Arvin Avila who also had double-digit performances with 10 and 11 points, respectively.
The Tamaraws’ most dominant performance came in the third set, 2519, when their starting six displayed team effort after giving the Red Warriors a furry of cross-court hits and quick attacks—sending their opponents reeling. Almost half of the Red Warriors’ score came from the Tamaraws’ unforced errors. The Tams’ offensive swag came after Alexis Faytaren dropped the ball to the Red Warriors’ side, giving the Tamaraws their biggest lead of the third set, 10-4. But after three consecutive errors by the Tams and a hit by UE, the Red Warriors inched within striking distance, 12-8. The error bug’s bite seemed to have a lingering effect to the Tamaraws even prior to reaching their match point after UE’s Gene Margate committed service error that moved the Red Warriors close again, 24-19. Joshua Barrica pulled the last laugh for the Tamaraws when he nailed a quick attack after a combination play, 2519, thus sweeping UE.
The Red Warriors’ finest performance came from a thrilling, nail-biting second set, where they lord over the Tamaraws. They prevented the Morayta-based squad in establishing huge leads by giving them quick attacks after quick attacks and providing answers in every FEU hit. They almost had the set on their grasp because of FEU’s unforced errors, but the Tamaraws quickly regained their stance after a last-ditch timeout and sneaked past the Red Warriors, 25-23. The first set was evidently owned by the Tamaraws as they thrashed the Red Warriors performancewise, 25-15, behind the offensive spark provided by Depamaylo, Faytaren, and Avila, who nailed two consecutive service aces during this set. “Okay naman (It’s okay),” Tams’ Coach George Pascua said, referring to his squad’s performance against UE. “Kaso ‘yung unforced errors, ang dami, kaya nakadikit ang kalaban (But there were Continue to page10...
Behind the coach’s golden kicks From running the red track in her high school years to scoring goals in college, she is now the official Head Coach of Far Eastern University (FEU) Women’s Football Team. Marnelli Salvador Dimzon, an alumni scholar, now has the full responsibility to coach the Lady Booters with all her heart. It was in 2009 when she became the head coach of the Lady Booters under Korean coach “Master Kim’s” guidance. Just this season when Athletics Director Mark Molina decided to give Coach Dimzon the full responsibility to lead the team to glory once again.
Dimzon also humbly that she is not in the said sport. that good in that even on my high years. Kahit sa mga division pagdating ng di ako nagkoHindi siguro para track and field win in the division not qualify when the NCR meet. track and field me) I’m just lucky scholarship.” So, she the football team accepted. As a is now one of the scholars in the the Tamaraws.
From tracks to grassy field During her high school years, the down-toearth head coach was part of the track and field team; therefore, she was able to get a scholarship at FEU easily. But sadly, Dimzon was removed in the track and field because she failed to earn any points. “Required kasi sa track [and field] na may points ka, unfortunately wala akong nakuhang points (In track and field it is a requirement to get points, but unfortunately I didn’t have any points),” she admitted.
Start of new beginning In spite of being part of the current roster in the year 2002, Dimzon volunteered herself to be part of the coaching staff because there was no time given to her. Then-Head Coach Jo Loren was replaced by Malou Rubio. Rubio was Dimzon’s teammate in the national team back then and she picked Dimzon to be her assistant coach in season 68. At the start of season 72, Dimzon became the new head coach of the green-andgold team. As a coach, she already achieved two
opponents resulting to three draws on Boards 1, 2 and 4 respectively. They produced 24.5 points after nine rounds. In the eighth round, FEU had a hard time battling the De La Salle University (DLSU) as they only managed to force ties in all the boards.
Salcedo, Nebato, and Rookie of the Year Lennon Hart Salgados only wrestled for a draw on their Board 1, 3, and 4 counterparts. Only Team Captain John Ranel Morazo defeated his Board 2 opponent Patrick Erle Florendo, 1-0, after the seventh round.
revealed that good “I’m not e v e n t , s c h o o l nanalo ako m e e t , NCR meet, q u a l i f y. sa akin ang (Though I meet, I did it comes in M a y b e is not for that I got a tried to join and got Bring back result, she the glory. Coach Marnelli Dimzon aims to improve the Lady Booters’ performance successful as they try to recapture the crown this season. history of (Photo by Ronalyn B. Pordan)
championships: first was during season 69 as an assistant coach. Second was during season 73; a season after, she became the new head coach. Being a mother and a coach, she has to set her schedule in an evenly manner. When asked about how she equalizes her time as a mother, wife, and coach, she simply admitted that it is really hard. “Dahil may iba pa akong work aside sa FEU nakakauwi na ko sometimes nine o’clock. So…extra time like Saturday and Sunday, Continue to page10...
In Round 6, Salcedo silenced UE’s Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo in Board 1 while Alfredo Rapanot showed brilliance in Board 4. Morazo and Nebato‘s own matches resulted to a draw in Board 3 and 4.
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