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Sports News Archive : Summer 2007
DLSU-D frosh skater bags eight medals
Filipinos could conquer the Skating rink even when we are in a tropical zone.
Mariel Toledo, freshman of BS Nursing, won in the Skate Asia 2007 tournament and proved to other countries that Filipinos are good at this sport, competing with different countries from Asia and the USA, held at SM Mall of Asia on August 12-18. She garnered three gold medals, one silver, and four bronze in eight different events.
Toledo said that she could hardly stay the week-long event in competing for the country. Still, she garnered gold medals in Rhythmic Skating, Jump and Spin, and Couples technical events. She snatched the silver medal in Artistic event, the bronze medals in the Technical, Interpretive, Team Compulsories, and Ensemble events.
Toledo said she did not expect to win in this international tilt because other competitors were excellent in their performance and, for the first time in her skating career she fell during her production number.
She also contributed three out of 684 gold medals that the Philippine delegation won in the events.
Each country consists of 200 skaters, some of them only presenting intermission numbers.
Neophytes in the limelight of a hundred years
John Darwin Perillo
A sweaty walk to the Palaruang La Salle was definitely worth it.
Besides seeing the majestic forms of the athletes our university boasts of, Heraldo Filipino had the chance to discover further how deep is the art of Judo, that, and how behind all this power Judokas possess, are gentle people waiting to be mastered by DLSU-D Judo coach Joe Rillo.
Judo. An art, or rather a style of fighting, has been developed over the centuries and generations as a way of war, a discipline which specializes in close-quarter fights and body throws. With our world seeking peaceful ways to avoid the hazards of war, Judo is a mainstay sport of the Olympics since 1964. DLSU-D has just mustered its own team of Judo practitioners. HF met two of DLSU-D’s top Judokas or Judo rookies—Xander Xera and June Adrineda, two new disciples of the art that is Judo. Behind these two mild-mannered and fun-loving people, are hardcore followers of this martial art that is two-hundred years in the making.
Insights over the horizon
Heraldo Filipino (HF): How long have you been practicing Judo?
June Adrineda (JA): Actually, we’re only just beginners. We started about a month and a half.
Xander Xera (XX): Ako naman, mas matagal. Six months na kasi ako nag-ju-Judo. Nag-start ako nung April.
HF: What interesting thing about Judo attracted you most into it?
XX: Ah, ‘yung dynamism ng sport. Kasi, ayaw ko kasi ‘yung martial art na puro Kata (exhibition moves) lang. ‘Yung bang puro hypothetical na movements lang. Gusto ko ‘yung magagamit mo sa streetfight, ‘yung real deal, kumbaga.
Tsaka ‘yung sakit ng katawan.(laughs).
JA: Sa ‘kin, ‘yung challenge. Challenge siya sakin kasi nung pumasok ako dito, puro lalaki. Tapos ako ‘yung unang babae dito, tapos ako pa ‘yung tumagal.
HF: So, how do tournaments in Judo go? Is it about exhibition and moves, or is it a full contact fight, like those in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Mixed Martial Arts?
XX: Ang Judo kasi, freestyle. Ano na mismo, full contact na. Hindi lang basta Kata or exhibition. It is not like a dance. It is a full contact fight.
The dreamer’s running start
HF: When you got accepted as a Judo varsity for DLSU-D, how did you feel?
XX: Ayos lang. Kasi hindi ko naman pinangarap na mag-varsity, kasi goal ko lang talaga maging Judo practitioner.
JA: Hindi pa po ako varsity, pero this month naging probationary member ako.
HF: So how do many members does the Judo team have?
JA: 15 members po all-in-all, both probationary members and varsities.
XX: Kasi sa Judo team, pwede kang sumali kahit wala kang balak maging varsity. Pero may pinipili kasi si coach Rillo, so dun na nagkakatalo sa pagiging varsity, ‘yung pipiliin ni coach na lumalaban.
Patriots qualify for Milo Marathon finals in November
James Michael Chiong
The Green-blooded names of Tolentino, Bolivar, and Salcedo have already been synonymous to Milo Marathon victories.
Patriots Ailene Tolentino, Alquin Bolivar, and Corazon Salcedo paced smoothly through the Milo Marathon 21k qualifying race held in San Pablo City on September 23. Tolentino waded through every opposition, winning a gold medal in the race for herself, while Salcedo and Bolivar won second place in their respective categories.
Tolentino finished the race in 1:45:27, one minute and 20 seconds earlier than Salcedo, who clocked in 1:46:44.
Bolivar, who finished second against SEA Games gold medalist and two-time Milo Marathon winner Allan Ballester, broke the line in 1:16:57, a minute more than the time Ballester finished the race.
The Patriots who stepped the winners’ ladder will be joining other qualifying racers on November 18 in Metro Manila for the grand finals stint.
Spikers succumb to Generals; pounces on SFACS
Michaela Grimaldo
Luis Olitoquit
A revamped team proved worthy of continuing the Patriots male spikers legacy as they barged into the UCAA finals round, defeating long-time rivals Saint Francis of Assisi College (SFACS) Doves in the elimination round, and eliminating Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals in the semifinals.
It was vindication for DLSU-D as they won three straight games in the eliminations, the last being a five-set thriller over nemesis SFACS.
Patriots take the lead
The DLSU-D spikers claimed its first victory with a straight-set romp over Universal College of Nursing (UCN), 25-20, 25-19, 25-14 on August 28 at the Las Piñas College gymnasium. The Patriots built a blast early in the first set as Mikko Gako, Salanie Pajiji, and Joseph Baylon relentlessly attacked and erected a five-point lead. A 12-point deficit was built in the second set as the Patriots cut down their errors and continued to provide ammunition, with the team’s solid blocks and quick spikes. UCN tried to catch up with their deficit through their blocks and plays, 24-19, but it was outwardly trimmed down with Patriot Geoffrey Valencia’s swift spike, ending the set with 25-19. The green-and-white squad took the edge in the third set, 6-1. As expected, DLSU-D’s Valencia, Pajiji, and Almahdie Hamid’s game play produced most of the points for the Patriots. Patriots Poli Gil scored consecutively through a spike, 13-9. UCN’s 28 violations added to DLSU-D’s easy win. A service ace from Pajiji ended the game, 25-14.
EAC exploits revamp
The green-and-white was shocked when EAC Generals outclassed them, letting them taste their most excruciating defeat in the history of UCAA in straight sets, 26-28, 19-25, 21-25 on September 3. The setback was the first that the Patriots encountered in the eliminations of the UCAA, nor any game, in the league’s history.
The upset came as the Patriot’s 37 errors in the game outweighed their 33 kills. The Patriots were out of synch, giving away the lead five times early in the first set. Just when the Patriots seemed ready to challenge the Generals, spike errors blew their chances off as they lost the first set. EAC-M came out strong in the first set as they scored 0-4. Valencia turned the table with his spike and took the lead to 12-10. A spike error from Pajiji brought the tie to 24-24. Valencia, then again, set his gun ablaze as he broke the tie to 26-25. Gil committed consecutive spike errors ending the set with a two-point deficit, 28-26.
The spikers seemed to have lost morale and gave the next set away without much of a fight. The Generals managed a 0-3 run in the second set and up the lead to seven as they took advantage of the Patriots miscues, 3-10. The green-and-white tried to demolish the Generals’ lead as EAC-M committed seven consecutive errors, 19-23. DLSU-D fell short as EAC-M ended the set, 25-19.
A rally was promised by the Patriots in the crucial third set. An exchange of points for both teams had not occurred until the Generals’ lead was up to five, posting 17-22 with their quick plays. The DLSU-D spikers were continuously bombarded with EAC’s spike attacks which eventually ended the game, 25-21.
“Inaasahan namin na darating ‘yung pagkatalo kasi marami nga ang nagbago [sa amin]. Syempre, ang pagkawala ni Borlag[datan], a new coordinator, director. Tapos wala pang practice during exams, wala rin noong Friday, Saturday, at Sunday. Pero maganda na rin na ngayon kami matalo para maiwasan ‘yung paglaki ng ulo dahil nga sa previous championships. Gagamitin namin ito para lalong lumakas kami,” Coach Darwin Campaña said regearding the game against EAC.
Patriots advance to semi-finals
And so the Patriots did surge back to their powerhouse status in their next game, as they routed Las Piñas College, 25-9, 25-12, 25-6. In front of the pleased DLSU-D crowd, the green-and-white, led by Hamid’s dominating 10 points, Pajiji and rookie Gako’s nine points, and Ricky Castillo’s seven hacked the life out of the Blue Lions. The Patriots, visibly playing with effective teamwork, also collected 10 blocks and five service aces altogether.
However, DLSU-D had trouble closing out sets when they committed a slew of errors against Olivarez College (OC). The OC Sea Lions gave more fight as they exploited the team’s errors and trimmed down deficits established by DLSU-D. However, Pajiji wrecked the Parañaque-based squad, garnering 14 points and a power jump serve that ended the game, 25-19, 25-15, 25-20.
New team, same threat
The straight-set finishes that the Patriots have made a habit of in the tournament changed as they faced the bitter rivals from Las Piñas. Coming into the game, SFACS had earlier crushed all opponents in straight sets, including EAC.
Patriot sophomore Gil made his presence felt coming off the bench as he became unstoppable in the final set to ambush league rival SFACS, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 16-14. Veterans Pajiji, Hamid, and Valencia could not find the stop to whack the doves, Gil’s fifth set heroics took the game to its most dramatic finish, with the set ending in two deuces.
A 4-0 run was made by the Doves in the early part of the first set. SFACS continued to strafe the Patriot’s court with their spikes and erected a seven-point lead, 21-14. A return error from Gako ended the set in favor of the Doves, 25-16.
Castillo showcased a drop which drew the second set’s first blood, 1-0 in favor of the Patriots. DLSU-D’s successive aces, blocks, drops, and spikes built a good start as they scored 11-6, giving them a five-point advantage over the Doves. The red-and-white donned spikers were awakened by the Patriots’ rampage and eventually worked out and set the tie, 16-16. The spikers grabbed the lead with a block courtesy of Hamid, followed by a quick spike from Gako that closed the game with a 4-point advantage for the Patriots, 25-21.
SFACS, determined to win the third set, scored 4-6 through their blocks and drops. A service ace tied the game to 6-6. Hasty spikes courtesy of Hamid and Valencia astounded the Doves and left them with a four-point deficit against the DLSU-D spikers. Patriots lead was cut short when SFACS tied up at 18-18, as the green-and-white squad committed numerous spikes errors. An error from the Doves ended the set in favor of the Patriots, 25-22.
DLSU-D used the third set to gain momentum on its way to the win. Patriots scored 6-4 during the early part of the set. Gako’s out spike tied the game, 6-6. After the Doves tied the game, SFACS was again on the trail as it seemed that they will regain the lead in the match. The Patriots spikers took advantage of the Doves’ violations and scored 21-22, but fell short as SFACS connected numerous service aces to end the set at 22-25.
The deciding set was not easy for the Patriots. SFACS bombarded the DLSU-D’s court with their powerful spike attacks. The Patriots’ combined efforts seemed to be less; the Doves took the lead with a 4-8 advantage. Then Pajiji started to stun the opposition with his spikes trimming the four-point advantage of the Doves to one. The SFACS spikers tried to block Pajiji’s kills but their efforts were futile to stop him from getting the lead, 14-13. Finally, a return error managed to end the game with Pajiji’s block, 16-14.
The Patriots’ victory against SFACS left them with a 4-1 team standing in the UCAA and advanced them to the semifinals.
Laboring the semis
At the end of the round, DLSU-D, EAC, and SFACS have identical 4-1 win-loss cards. The Doves and Generals clinched the top two seeds and twice to beat advantages, due to superior quotients. The Dasmariñas-based spikers dropped to third and was paired against EAC, while SFACS took on OC.
DLSU-D trounced on the Ermita-based spikers who played with home court advantage, and applied heavier pressure after each set, 25-22, 25-18, 25-12. Team captain Valencia sprang to life in the second set to compensate for Gako’s exit after rolling out of the court, during a fierce rally because of an ankle injury.
Valencia lashed nine hits with Pajiji’s 13 to subdue the Generals into a defensive game. However, more attacks from Patriots Edison Sundiam and Hamid cracked the EAC resistance. DLSU-D’s power game brought three service aces and shocked EAC, who previously taunted the Patriots back from their first encounter.
EAC tried to make good out of their twice-to-beat advantage when they faced the resurging Patriots in Dasmariñas on October 16.
The Generals surprised the Patriots, taking the first set, 23-25, to the dismay of the crowd. But Pajiji and Valencia had other plans as they sprang at the EAC defense, scoring six kills each to build an eight-point margin through the second set and ended the set at 25-17. Despite numerous errors in the third set, the Patriots came through, 25-19, with Pajiji, Hamid, and Valencia combining for 16 kills. The Generals tried a last attempt to salvage another set, yet the Patriots unwavering defense and timely quick attacks killed the Generals. The 23-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-22 win enabled the Patriots to move to the finals against waiting rivals SFACS Doves.
Tolentino sisters sweat their way in track meets
Jonas Terrado
Sisters Ellen and Ailyn Tolentino may have earned a slot in the forthcoming 31st National MILO Marathon in Manila on November 18 but that did not stop the duo from bagging home honors in other track events.
In one of their recent runs, Ailyn bagged home second in the 10km run of the Breast Friends event at the Phil Sports Complex in Pasig City on October 7. She finished with an estimated time of 40 minutes behind winner Maricel Maquilan of the University of the East.
Meanwhile, Ellen clocked 24 minutes in the 5k run for a second-place finish, behind University of Santo Tomas’ Liza Yambao.
In the Pocari Sweat Fitness Challenge Run for Fun event, Ailyn won the distaff side of the 10km event in 40 minutes while Ellen finished in fourth place at The Block in SM North Edsa on July 1.
In the UP Tara Run 10km sprint, Ailyn plucked a third place showing in 36 minutes with sister Ellen claiming fourth place honors with a time of 40 minutes as national team members Christabel Martes and Flordeliza Carreon put on a 1-2 finish.
USLS hosts National UNIGAMES for the third time
James Michael Chiong
One, two, three!
For the third consecutive time, the National UNIGAMES graced the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental on October 21-28. Universities and colleges came over to the City of Smiles to showcase their skills and sportsmanship in different sporting events.
Showing off their dominating forms are the Patriots male spikers and tracksters, hoping to grab slew of medals and awards in the week-long tourney. The Dasmariñas-based spikers, who came off third for the past two years, hopes for better chances even without their local superstars who helped them nab their bronzes. The tracksters, who last competed in the UNIGAMES in 2003, are pitted against other seasoned runners from around the country.
The Patriots male spikers and their coaches are bound for Bacolod City, while selected DLSU-D tracksters will be jumping hurdles and are ready to bring home medals for the University. Gerardo Sergio III and Vangie Montillano, Sports Development Office director and Internal Sports Activities coordinator, will be joining the athletes in their one-week stint.
Volleybelles off to a sluggish start
Jonas Terrado
DLSU-D’s run for a fifth consecutive plum is off to a slow start in the sixth UCAA women’s volleyball tournament, following contrasting results in their first two games.
The Patriots suffered an opening day setback against St. Francis of Assisi College System (SFACS) on September 3 but bounced back three days later with an easy three set victory over Asian College of Science and Technology (ACSAT) for their first win of the season.
The defending champions, who have dominated the tournament since 2003, slashed the hapless Lightnings with a 25-18, 25-15, 25-19 thrashing, giving them a 1-1 win-loss card in the single round elimination tournament.
Following a tight start in the opening set in which both teams traded points, DLSU-D pulled away in the middle portion to produce a much needed first set victory, outscoring the computer-oriented university 9-3, on two service aces and a spike by Patriots rookie Sheena Martin.
Playing with a home court advantage, the Patriot volleybelles easily won the next set with freshman Jehseul Wensh Tiu starting the game, scoring two of the first four points for a 4-1 lead while another newcomer Reynalyn Quicquic played lead role in a booming 10-0 blitzkrieg for a 17-6 spread.
The Patriots then were on a verge of clinching an easy match with an 11-4 start in the third frame. ACSAT managed to pull within 16-13 with most of the points the Lightnings committed came on a number of errors by the green-and-white tossers.
But the volleybelles managed to put the lead to eight, 21-13, after the left-handed Almaden scored a running spike to end any chances of a monumental collapse.
“Mas maganda ang laro nila sa game unlike nung isang araw, nagclick ‘yung depensa namin at nagkaroon sila kahit papaano ng galaw sa loob at naguusap na sila kaya maganda ang communication,” said head coach Jasmin Bacolod.
Unlike its previous championship stints, the current squad has a vast majority of new players.
“Ang malaking bagay din sa lineup na ito, nararamdaman nila na paghirapan ‘yung ginagawa nila, every point importante. Hindi na ‘yung aasa pa sa iba na ‘nandyan naman si ate e’,” she said.
The win by the Patriots followed a humbling defeat against the more experienced Doves, in a close four-set encounter, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, at the Las Piñas College gym.
With the Doves claiming the first set and the Patriots answering back to snatch the second frame, the former broke away from a 20-19 deficit by scoring six points while giving up only three to secure the set victory. This occured after the Patriots committed two unforced reception errors while SFACS’ team captain Sarah Gonzaga, teammates April Mojica, and Iceal Cuevas scoring from their own offense.
In the fourth set, the volleybelles opened with 8-5 and 10-7 leads on attack points by Alnaden and Quicquic. But, they squandered the lead yet again as Aceleen Dubiao sank a drop shot that keyed four unanswered points for an 11-10 SFACS edge.
Almaden became the key catalyst in the next few series as she scored two points on a drop shot and a running spike while Regina Anne Tungol scored on a difficult running spike for their final lead, 14-13.
But they would collapse in the end, allowing SFACS to take command on an 8-2 blast as a drop shot, a service ace, a kill by the Las Piñas-based spikers, along with two errors by the volleybelles dealt them behind, 22-16, which virtually put the game out of reach.
With three games left to play, DLSU-D will face Emilio Aguinaldo College-Manila on September 18, Olivarez College on September 20, and LPC on September 25, with each game playing an important role in their semifinal fortunes.
Cagers drop out of UCAA
JP Dizon
King Doliente
Sixtus Dane Ramos
The Patriots’ struggle for survival comes to a shattering end as they bowed to the fierce prowess of the Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA) Jaguars, burying the green-and-white with an 81-68 loss at the Olivarez College Sports Center in Parañaque City on September 17, leaving the dream of a championship in the 6th UCAA basketball season a rotting piece of the past.
The Patriots stand at 5-9 win-loss slate for sixth place after the elimination round.
Reviewing the bout against the Jaguars, the Patriots were cut off by PSBA’s claws at the first five minutes of the game with an eight-point deficit. Patriots’ Mark Medel broke the Jaguars eight-to-nothing run as he scored, 4-10, with less than five minutes at the clock.
But still, PSBA continued their attack against the green-and-white with a constant eight-point advantage at the last two minutes of the first quarter, 11-19. In the final seconds of the first period, Patriot Lian Alejandro fired a shot from beyond the arc, closing the quarter at 16-23, still in favor of PSBA.
PSBA Jaguar Vic Manuel dominated the paint as he owned the second quarter, giving the Patriots a run for their game. Even with the combined efforts of Patriots Manuel Anselmo, Leo Pelayo, and Lance Espeleta, they still trailed behind the Jaguars with a 10 point deficit, 29-39, marking the end of the first half.
During the third quarter, Ezra Prollamante contributed a lay-up, sealing the Patriots’ closest gap from PSBA, 44-46, at the end of the first seven minutes of the third period. The quarter ended with a staggering comeback of the Patriots against the Jaguars, but still with a tie, 58-58.
After the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, the green-and-white has made its first lead against PSBA, 60-59. But after Alejandro’s jump-shot that sank, the Jaguars pushed their offensive against the Patriots.
It was the last minutes of the fourth quarter and the Patriots’ hopes dried up as PSBA marked the end of their odyssey towards the glory at the UCAA, 81-68.
In this season almost all of the lost games of the Patriots started off with early leads only to lose it in the late stages of the contest.
In their first two games of the tourney, the bulldozing offensive of the Las Piñas College (LPC) Blue Lions crushed the defense of the Patriots, 77-68, after the Patriots took an 11-point lead during the second quarter, but on its second game the Patriots bounced back with a hard-fought victory against newcomer Universal College of Nursing (UCN) Dragons.
The Patriots had a 1-1 win-loss record, when the St. Francis of Assisi College System (SFACS) Doves defeated them, 72-58. On their next game, the PSBA Jaguars slashed the Patriots for the first time, 65-68, giving the Patriots their second loss, falling to 1-3.
In the game held at DLSU-D’s PLS on September 6, the green-and-white cagers showed their lethal prowess as they were able to nose out the Asian College for Science and Technology (ACSAT) Lightnings via overtime, 99-95. The Patriots were behind by three points during the last three seconds of the fourth quarter; and suddenly the PLS gym exploded with loud and excited cheers from the crowd. DLSU-D’s Angel Salado banked-in a three-point shot forcing the game into overtime, 83-83.
The still hyped-up Patriots continued to maintain their momentum during the overtime as Anselmo, nailed five points to protect DLSU-D’s lead leaving the Lightnings at bay with a four-point deficit. With the continued support from the DLSU-D crowd backing up the Patriots’ campaign to win, it was Patriot Leo Pelayo’s two-point shot that gave them a six-point lead at 96-90. Finally, with barely a second left in the game, Anselmo scored yet two charities to eventually end the game, 99-95.
But the Patriots lost against the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals 106-75 at the Arena in San Juan Metro Manila. In that game, both teams got into a brawl during the second quarter, sending 14 players from both teams thrown out. This became the start of their five-game losing streaks against the Olivarez College (OC) Sea Lions, LPC, and the aforementioned match against PSBA.
The Patriots scored its only winning streak of the season after beating UCN and ACSAT on September 19 and 21 respectively.
In their match against ACSAT at the EAC Gym, Lenon Lasin scored a staggering 19 points throughout the game. Their biggest lead came with just under two minutes in the second quarter, 40-31.
The Patriots overcame the loss of Lasin, who fouled out early in the third quarter, as Salado, one of the leading scorers of the Patriots, saved the day by shooting a running shot near the free throw line with just 15 seconds left in the final quarter. During the final seconds, ACSAT was not able to crush the intense defense of the cagers, resulting to a winning spree for the team.
In their final two games of the tournament, DLSU-D fumbled and lost the game to EAC, 62-59, despite posting a 12-point lead in the first quarter while the cagers figured in a game-ending, bench-clearing brawl with Olivarez College on September 26 which no team was handed out as a winner.
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