UAAP S76 Primer FIRST SEMESTER
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
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INSIDE PHOTO AND COVER BY FRANCINE A. BHARWANI
Message from the Editors With the dawn of another University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season fast approaching, we are proud to present the UAAP Season 76 Primer for the first semester. This primer is first and foremost dedicated to our celebrated student-athletes, coaches, managers and training staff. It is a salute to the Ateneo sports community for their unwavering efforts to bring pride and glory to our university through their commitment, discipline, camaraderie and sportsmanship. It is also a means to provide the university with the opportunity to get a glimpse of what’s in store for Team Ateneo. By doing so, we, along with the dedicated members of The GUIDON Sports staff, stay true to our mission of chronicling Ateneo sports historyin-the-making. Although some of the names on the backs of jerseys have changed this season, the Blue and White Hail Mary spirit remains. That said, we would also like to encourage our fellow Ateneans to support our various teams as they strive to uphold our university’s tradition of excellence in the sphere of sports. Lastly, we would like to wish all our teams the best of luck this season. One big fight!
Margarita A. Contreras and Roman C. Mirasol Sports Editors The GUIDON 2013-2014
UAAP Season 76 Primer
FIRST SEMESTER
SPORTS EDITORS Margarita A. Contreras, AB Comm ‘14 Roman Carlo C. Mirasol, BS Mgt ‘14 WRITERS Robi R. Andres, Raizza P. Bello, Earl D.L. Forlales, Chino C. Razon Victor Rafael M. Agbayani, AB Comm ‘14 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Arianna Y. Lim, AB Comm ‘14
PHOTOGRAPHERS Abram P. Barrameda, Francine A. Bharwani, Alexandra L. Huang, Christie K. Lim, Ryan Y. Racca, Arthur J. Tan
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Maria Janina B. de Leon, BS Mgt ‘14 MANAGING EDITOR
COPY EDITOR Chino C. Razon
Karlo Angelo C. Amparo, BFA ID ‘14 DESIGN EXECUTIVE EDITOR
LAYOUT ARTIST Jan-Daniel S. Belmonte
Table of Contents 1
UAAP Season 75 Highlights
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Men’s Badminton
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Men’s & Women’s Beach Volleyball
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Blue Babble Battalion
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Blue and Lady Judokas
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Men’s and Women’s Table Tennis
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Men’s & Women’s Taekwondo
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Women’s Basketball
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Women’s Swimming
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Men’s Swimming
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Women’s Badminton
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Men’s Basketball
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Alma Mater Song
UAAP Season 75 Highlights Champions
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Badminton
Men’s Baseball
Men’s Swimming
Men’s Football
1st Runners-up
Men’s Badminton
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Women’s Volleyball
Women’s Swimming
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
RESEARCH BY Margarita A. Contreras and Roman C. Mirasol INFOGRAPHIC BY Jan-Daniel S. Belmonte
Overall Championship
De La Salle University
University of Sto. Tomas
Ateneo de Manila University
293 points
277 points
205 points
Most Valuable Players
Gelita Castillo
Nicolas O’Donnell
Miguel Salud
Matt Laurel
Women’s Badminton
Men’s Football
Men’s Baseball
Men’s Baseball
Rookies of The Year
Jana De Vera
Leo Carlo Liay
Miguel Salud
Axel Ngui
Women’s Badminton
Men’s Football
Men’s Baseball
Men’s Swimming
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
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PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG AND RYAN Y. RACCA
Men’s Badminton By Earl D.L. Forlales
AFTER MOVING down from the highest step of the podium last season, the Ateneo Blue Shuttlers have no plans of remaining in second place for Season 76. However, the road to redemption will not be an easy one for the men’s badminton team. This season, they will have to make do without veteran Toby Gadi, Season 74’s Most Valuable Player. The 2012 Moro 3
Lorenzo Sportsman of the Year opted to leave his Ateneo gear in the closet this season, deciding to take a leave of absence to concentrate more on his training and international competitions. The loss of Gadi is highlighted even more by this year’s roster, largely composed of unseasoned players; more than half of the team’s lineup are freshmen. But the squad is not entirely inexperienced, as veteran players Patrick and Justin Natividad will be back
for this year’s campaign. With Gadi out, it is up to the Natividad brothers to take over the leadership duties. Despite a tough task ahead, Head Coach Kennie Asuncion is dead sure that her boys will step up to the challenge. As long as the team buys into Asuncion’s proven training system— one that has resulted in three finals appearances in as many seasons— the journey back to the top may not take very long.
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
PHOTOS BY RYAN Y. RACCA
Men’s & Women’s Beach Volleyball By Chino C. Razon
THE BLUE and Lady Beach Spikers are looking forward to beating the heat in another season of beach volleyball action. The women’s team—currently composed of Bea Tan and Alyssa Valdez—is back for another title run after failing to secure a podium finish last year and falling short of the finals two seasons ago. Experience serves as an x-factor for the duo of Tan and Valdez: Tan believes that the past two years’ heart-breaking endings will provide the team with an edge. According
to her, the long wait has made them more eager than ever to secure the championship. The road to the title looks promising for the Lady Beach Spikers: Considering that most of the key players from strong contenders like University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University have already graduated, the team is optimistic about their chances of bringing home the title. On the other hand, the men’s team is on its way to making an impact in their own tournament. Despite finishing seventh in the elimination round, the pair of Karl Baysa and Jeriel Apelar will enter the season
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
well-conditioned after devoting the entire summer to training sessions. This season, the Blue Spikers will be counting on Baysa and Apelar’s explosiveness and athleticism on the court. As both of them are products of American high schools, the duo is banking on their international background for an advantage. Apelar points out that the style of play abroad is different and could give them an edge over their opponents. With Season 76 fast approaching, the Blue and Lady Beach Spikers are determined to etch the Ateneo’s name in both the sands and the record books.
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PHOTOS BY CHRISTIE K. LIM AND RYAN Y. RACCA
Blue Babble Squad By Raizza P. Bello
JUST A day before the UAAP Season 75’s Cheerdance Competition, the injuries incurred by several of the members forced the Blue Babble Squad to come up with a change of routine. Despite the sudden modification, they managed to land at fifth place out of eight. Since their iconic Michael Jackson routine that secured their second place finish in the 2009 Cheerdance Competition, Babble has failed to emerge in the top three again. Prior to last year’s fifth place finish, the 5
squad has placed fourth in 2010 and seventh in 2011. After being left without a coach for several months after the UAAP Season 75 Cheerdance Competition, Babble is now being mentored by a power trio. Guiding the team are Assistant Coaches Ryan Silva and Marvin Wyant and Head Coach Barbara Escueta, a former Babble Cheerdancers team captain. Interestingly, both Silva and Wyant are former coaches and members of the multi-awarded Salinggawi Dance Troupe of the University of Santo Tomas. With only 18 cheerdancers and lifters combined at the start of
their summer training last May, the team is on a mission to rebuild and strengthen its membership base. In order to fill in the slots that have been left empty, the squad plans to be more aggressive with recruitment this year. As current Cheerdancers Team Captain Bea Crisologo and Lifters Team Captain Laurence Arceño put it, this year will be very different with the new styles being taught and offered to the team. For the year ahead, Babble is working on its weaknesses and improving on its strengths, remaining optimistic but keeping their expectations in check.
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
PHOTOS BY ABRAM P. BARRAMEDA
Blue and Lady Judokas By Robi R. Andres
READY TO rise up from their years-long slump, the Blue and Lady Judokas have come prepared to dominate UAAP Season 76. Coming off a disappointing season where they failed to clinch a podium finish, the Ateneo Blue Judokas have something to prove. With a recent history of winning streaks that includes a three-peat in Seasons 71 to 73 and a second place finish in Season 74, last season’s fourth place finish was not something the Judokas were planning on. Veterans Sean Vergel de Dios,
Jaymi Laurel, Dan Gonzalez and PJ Gairanod may have graduated last school year, but the current team is unfazed. They are looking to improve their record under the leadership of gold-winning captain Matthew Simon Jao. However, the Judokas face stiff competition with back-to-back champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) looking to defend its title. Similarly, the Lady Judokas are looking to fortify their training regimen in time for the upcoming UAAP tournament. To further strengthen their current roster, the team participated in the Philippine National Games, the International
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
School Manila Invitation Tournament and the Hajime! 2013 Tournament. Under the leadership of Team Captain Samantha de la Costa, the women’s team is confident about clinching their first ever podium finish this coming season. The window has never been so wide: Top players from UST and the University of the Philippines have graduated, leaving no clear contender to dominate the competition. This season, all teams are set for an equal shot at the top prize. For both the Blue and Lady Judokas, it’s full steam ahead as they march on to battle.
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PHOTOS BY ARTHUR TAN
Men’s and Women’s Table Tennis By Chino C. Razon
DESPITE LOSING several prized recruits and veteran players to graduation and academic hitches, the Blue and Lady Paddlers are optimistic about the upcoming season. The start of a new UAAP season means once again going up against star-studded teams like threetime champion University of Santo Tomas, and both the Blue and Lady Paddlers are prepared for battle. Ac7
cording to veteran Paddler Erwin Gavino, the team is unmatched when it comes to determination to win and fight whomever they are up against. The team looks forward to going for the kill in Season 76 with key players such as Hai Crisostomo, who excelled in the Philippine National Games last May 2013, and standout Karl Uy. They have also amped up their training programs in order to be in their best shape this coming season.
For the first time in Ateneo Table Tennis history, both the men’s and women’s teams have started to maximize the training facilities in the Moro Lorenzo Sports Complex. Their rigorous core workouts have built up stronger endurance, something that will be one of their best assets come UAAP season. With a much-improved training program for a team determined to outshine their more accomplished opponents, the season looks bright for the Atenean Paddlers.
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
PHOTO BY RYAN Y. RACCA
Men’s & Women’s Taekwondo By Raizza P. Bello
TAGGED AS the underdogs, both the Blue and Lady Jins failed to claim a top three finish at last season’s UAAP Taekwondo Tournament. But despite falling short of a podium finish by one place, the men’s team still managed to secure a number of medals: Gyle Geñoso and Joel Alejandro bagged gold and silver medals respectively in individual categories, while the trio of Aaron Agojo, Lhord Garganza and Red Bermejo earned a bronze medal in the Poomsae group category.
The Lady Jins, however, weren’t as fortunate, finishing only sixth in the women’s tournament. According to Alejandro and Kyla Relucio, team captains for the men’s and women’s squads respectively, having to adjust to a new coach last year greatly affected the entire team’s execution and performance. This season, some experienced young bloods are expected to inject new life to the Jins’ lineup. The Blue Jins will be joined by former national team member Justin de Leon and Far Eastern University recruit Mark Mapatak. Suiting up for the Lady Jins, on the other hand, are Weedee Valenzuela, another former national
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
team member, and Palarong Pambansa champion Noleen Lagnada. As part of their preparation over the summer, the men’s team joined the Philippine Taekwondo League while the women’s squad participated in the All Women’s National Competition. Both teams also geared up for the Philippine National Games and the Smart National New Face of the Year Taekwondo Championships. With a handful of promising recruits and a more rigorous training regimen in place for the upcoming season, the Ateneo Blue and Lady Jins are setting their sights on a top three finish in Season 76. 8
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The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
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PHOTO BY ABRAM P. BARRAMEDA
Women’s Basketball By Robi R. Andres
FRESH OFF their first Final Four appearance in five years, the Lady Eagles are determined to build on last year’s success. Losing six key players to graduation, however, will not help their cause. Angel Morales, Corinne Javier, Jen Dimaano, Sam Ong, Val Chua and leading scorer Sarah Mercado will no longer be donning the Blue and White this season. With their departure, the team will be filling the void with three new recruits: Cara Buendia and 11
Gaby Veloso from Miriam College and Kat Nuñez from De La Salle Zobel. Nuñez has been touted as one of the best players in her former high school team. Returning to lead the team are veterans Danica Jose, Ther Aseron and Team Captain Sami Bo-ot. This is a welcome sight for a team that is looking to alleviate the loss of numerous key players. In particular, starting center Jose will be counted on to provide a strong presence inside the paint after leading the squad in both rebounds and blocked shots last year. In addition, newly-hired Assistant
Coach Paul Ramos hopes to provide a new dimension to Head Coach Epok Quimpo’s staff. Ramos will specifically focus on fortifying the squad’s play on the defensive end. Aside from more active participation in tune-up games and off-season tournaments, the team also employed a team-building seminar and a tougher training regimen to prepare themselves for the UAAP. With such extensive off-season preparations, the Lady Eagles are hoping that their renewed focus and drive will ultimately lead to a title in Season 76.
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
PHOTOS BY ABRAM P. BARRAMEDA
Women’s Swimming By Earl D.L. Forlales
FOR FOUR consecutive years now, the Ateneo Lady Tankers have been the runners-up to the University of the Philippines’ (UP) Lady Maroons in the UAAP. For Season 76, the last thing they want is yet another bridesmaid finish. The Lady Tankers are entering the upcoming season with their fleet left practically intact, still led by powerhouse trio Celina Gonzalez, Kim Uy and Jasmine Ong. Also joining the team this year are highly experienced freshmen Thea Caluma, Hannah Dato, Maria Andrea Torres and Sandra Gojar,
all of whom have competed internationally. Even with a technically strong lineup, the biggest challenge the Lady Tankers face is their lack of swimmers. In UAAP swimming, the winning teams are determined by the points amassed by each individual who qualifies for the finals. Although there is no question about the strength and skill of the Lady Tankers, they are largely outnumbered by their rival, UP. UP usually sends up to four swimmers per competition event, increasing their chances of raking in points and landing in the top eight. The Ateneo, on the other hand, is more likely to field two
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
at the most. Being outnumbered has been a problem for the Lady Tankers for years, but they consistently try to make up for it with a more solid team effort. This entails being each other’s support systems and cheering each other on in their respective events. The Lady Tankers are more than determined to bid goodbye to second place finishes. With the team only growing swifter and braver as the start of the season draws nearer, the ladies may just emerge from the waters biting gold. Perhaps with that, they will prove that determination and experience is still greater than mere numbers. 12
Returning Champions THREE OF Ateneo’s defending champions will enter the battlefield in the first half of UAAP action. The men’s badminton, women’s badminton, and men’s swimming teams are all armed and ready to defend their respective crowns. With another season of collegiate wars set to break out, the aforementioned teams are looking forward to spearheading Team Ateneo’s Season 76 campaign as they attempt to remain on top of their championship thrones.
PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG, RYAN Y. RACCA, ARTHUR TAN AND ABRAM P. BARRAMEDA
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
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Men’s Swimming By Earl D.L. Forlales
FOLLOWING A lackluster Season 74, the Ateneo Blue Tankers managed to redeem themselves last season by clinching their first ever tourney title. This year, the men’s swim team is on a mission to defend the championship that took them 15
almost 35 years to secure. young bloods on the team, they join The Blue Tankers will launch a reigning Rookie of the Year Axel powerful lineup come Season 76: Ngui and national team player Gio Returning veterans Benjo Ramos, Palencia. With these new additions, Islau Dapat and Micco Pesueña are the Blue Tankers’ dream of another determined to take on contenders top podium finish in Season 76 has grown brighter. who aim to steal the title. Reinforcing the strong roster are Discussing last season’s champrized recruits Jan Jeric Santos pionship, Ramos says, “I think our and Olympian Jessie Lacuna. As hard work and our positive mindset The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
PHOTO BY ABRAM P. BARRAMEDA
really helped in getting the crown. Timing was also an important factor in the victory. We had caliber swimmers from all four levels in the lineup who really stepped up and performed their best.” “We all knew we had a good chance of winning and it would have been a waste if we did not capitalize on it. Personally, I took that as a mo-
tivation to train harder. I wouldn’t be surprised if all my other teammates thought of it as well,” he adds. The positivity and perseverance that Ramos speaks of was particularly evident during last season’s fourth day of competition. The Blue Tankers ended the third day leading rival De La Salle University by 13 points, but after the fourth day’s
50-meter freestyle and 4x100-meter medley relay events, they were only leading by a slim margin. This prompted the squad to work double time to secure victory. This coming season, with both individual grit and teamwork, the squad is looking firm and poised for another climb up the ranks.
Women’s Badminton 17
PHOTO The BY ALEXANDRA GUIDON L.UAAP HUANG Season AND RYAN 76 Y.Primer RACCA
By Earl D.L. Forlales
YOUTH AND experience made the unlikely combination that won the Ateneo Lady Shuttlers’ championship last season. This year, Women’s Badminton Head Coach Kennie Asuncion looks to stick with the same winning formula. The Lady Shuttlers fielded a lot of young blood in their Season 75 title campaign: Instrumental to the team’s first place finish was 2012 Rookie of the Year Jana De Vera as well as the sophomore duo of Dia Magno and 2011 Rookie of the Year Gelita Castilo. All three played important roles in eliminating then defending champion University of the East in the
semi-finals and copping the crown from Far Eastern University in the championship round. Though still quite young, the three were not exactly newbies, coming into the university league with top spots in the Philippine Badminton Ranking System (Pbars). This year, Asuncion will be adding two fresh but seasoned shuttlers to her roster. The Lady Shuttlers’ pursuit of a second consecutive title is now better equipped with the addition of Bianca Carlos and Patrisha Malibiran, two of the country’s highest-ranking female players in their category. Carlos has consistently topped the Ladies Division of the Under 19 and Open Singles categories of the Pbars, while Malibiran stands
at the second spot in the same age group. Together, they will surely provide a lot of firepower for the Lady Shuttlers. Despite having a powerhouse lineup, the squad does not plan on taking Season 76 lightly. “We have a strong ladies team but I constantly remind our players not to relax nor slow down because, as the gold medalists, everyone is eyeing that spot. And in order for us to have the same results, we must always train like we’re number two but play like we’re number one,” says Asuncion. With a lineup as skilled as they are fresh, back-to-back titles for the Lady Shuttlers may only be a few steps away.
Men’s Basketball By Robi R. Andres
WINNING BACK-TO-BACK championships is a difficult yet possible feat; clinching six consecutive titles in the Final Four era of UAAP Basketball, however, is unparalleled. This is the weight the current Blue Eagles are carrying, despite fielding a team that is extremely different from those of yesteryears. The most obvious difference is the man at the helm. Norman Black, now head coach of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Talk N’ Text team, will no longer be orchestrating the university’s team from the sidelines. That responsibility now falls upon the new head coach, Bo Perasol. The coaching philosophies of the two could not be more different: Black instilled a traditional, slowed19
down game, while Perasol is looking will be tasked to help lift the load off to employ the “run and gun” system of Tiongson and Ravena’s shoulders. he is known for—a playing style that Newsome will be suiting up for the emphasizes fast breaks and gives Blue Eagles for the first time this players more freedom to shoot. season after serving the two years “The run and gun style that we’re of residency required of foreign stugoing to utilize is not because it’s my dent-athletes. philosophy; we’ll utilize that out of The annual FilOil Flying V necessity,” Perasol stressed. Hanes Cup preseason summer Despite the contrast, both coaches tournament did little to quell the have shown a knack for winning, a doubts surrounding the current quality that will surely be tested this team: Although they ended with a upcoming season. 7-1 win-loss record, several injuries The team will also have to deal devastated the roster and left the with the departure of five veterans, Blue Eagles no choice but to back namely, Justin Chua, Oping Suma- out of the tournament. linog, Tonino Gonzaga, Nico Salva With all the concerns about this and Greg Slaughter. To offset the team, the journey to the finals has loss, the squad will rely heavily on never been more daunting. However, Team Captain Juami Tiongson and armed with players who have proven phenomenal guard Kiefer Ravena. themselves time and again, the Blue Christopher Newsome and 2010 Eagles remain in hot pursuit of UAAP Finals MVP Ryan Buenafe another title in Season 76. The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
PHOTO BY ARTHUR TAN AND RYAN Y. RACCA
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The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
A Song for Mary We stand on a hill between the earth and sky Now all is still where Loyola’s colors fly Our course is run and the setting sun ends Ateneo’s day, Eyes are dry at the last goodbye; This is the Ateneo way. Mary for you! For your white and blue! We pray you’ll keep us, Mary, constantly true! We pray you’’ll keep us, Mary, faithful to you! Down from the hill, Down to the world go I; Rememb’ring still how the bright Blue Eagles fly. Through joy and tears, through the laughing years, We sing our battle song: Win or lose, It’s the school we choose; This is the place where we belong! Mary for you! For your white and blue! We pray you’ll keep us, Mary, constantly true! We pray you’ll keep us, Mary, faithful to you!
The GUIDON UAAP Season 76 Primer
22 PHOTO BY ABRAM P. BARRAMEDA