The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Philippines
www.usapublications.net
A7
SPorTS F2 Logistics moves to pro PVL
#LetsMoveNow. The Cargo Movers parts ways with the PSL after 5 years. b y J o a nn a Wayn e s . Hor n e Ja Living by their mantra “Let’s Move Now”, the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers completed the final lineup of 12 teams for the 2021 Premiere Volleyball League (PVL) after officially leaving the Philippine Super Liga (PSL), March 11. Being the last active team in the PSL, the powerhouse squad officially announced their departure from the league on their social media pages - joining former PSL club teams Chery Tiggo, Sta. Lucia Realtors, PLDT,
and Cignal in the professional scene, thus, leaving no teams in the rival league. “It is with grateful hearts that we thank PSL for being our home for the past five years. Our team was created in this league
file pHOTO • migS flOreS, TiebreaKer TimeS
way back in 2016,” read the statement of the team. The decorated club team, mentored by the multi-titled head coach in collegiate and semi-professional scenes Ramil De Jesus, ended their Superliga legacy with five championship titles since the formation of the team in 2016. “We would not be here without you. It is also because of you that we announce that PVL will be the arena that we will
continuously hone our skills and characters,” furthered the Cargo Movers. National Team and F2 Logistics Captain Aby Maraño expects that it will only help the future of Philippine Volleyball as they will encounter lesser conflicts with their training schedules now that all players are united in one league. “At least man lang, maexperience namin na merong isang league na magkakasama kami ulit. Nakaka-miss na makalaban sila Alyssa (Valdez) and other girls from the other league, the PVL,” said Maraño, eight-time PSL Best Blocker. With a total of 12 teams now under the umbrella of the PVL, a total of 12 club teams including Choco Mucho, PetroGazz, BanKoPerlas, Balipure/Chef’s Classics, Cignal, PLDT, Philippine Army, Unlimited Athletes Club, and now F2 Logistics, the league is set to open a bubble on May 8. Moreover, PVL shifted to pro in November 2020 after a tripartite agreement among the Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Health, and the Games and Amusements Board allowing only professional leagues to hold competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
War Over the Board: The Chess Saga of Luz Bella by m a ry W en a n t H o n y ri Ve ra, H an n aH J H an y l le P o , a nd Pa u li ne m a ri e a r ad a
“every chess master was once a beginner.” irving Chernev’s words set the mind of a prominent golden eagle wood pouncer, luz bella Capilastique gajo, as her eyes trained to the wooden chessboard. She pushed a pawn forward, and the game began. an oPenInG GaMBIT Growing up in a family of chess players, the rhythmic tapping of wooden pieces is a familiar tune present in about 12 years of small family games to big tournaments. “Back in middle school, I was able to join a big tournament named Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship, Visayas Leg, hosted by SM City Iloilo,” Gajo shared with The Augustinian. It was years later, after the noise of the college intramurals the cheers from friends and quiet assessments of her opponents had died down, however, when she started a new chapter with an invitation to try out for the varsity chess team. The said invite also brought new faces, a noteworthy one being Sir Rosendo Reyes, the
coach and trainer of the secondary and tertiary chess team. With his guidance, Gajo continued moving black and white pieces, this time under the red and gold banner of the University. Sometime in her first year in the team, she entered the Iloilo Private Schools Athletic Association (ILOPRISAA) 2018 before advancing to the regionals, West Visayas PRISAA (WVPRISAA). She stepped up to WVPRISAA 2020 in her second year, taking home the championship title. “Together with Team ILOPRISAA and bringing the school’s name, we were one of the winning teams that would have participated in the National PRISAA, but the pandemic happened,” she stated. Despite this, Gajo persisted. SMaLL deTaILS In THe MIddLeGaMe “The most memorable tournaments are those where you meet, share experiences, and learn with people with similar passions as you,” Gajo opined. In this sense, being a chess player, much like playing the game itself, is more than bagging glinting medals and placing traps on a field of squares. It is also about balancing effort and time expended on each role played - daughter, student, varsity player, and friend. In between games and training, Gajo helped with
housework and the family business, socialized with friends, chased deadlines, and studied for exams like any other Augustinian, but with a heavier-than-average schedule. “She maintains a good playing attitude. She has practiced hard and played hard, values all champions portray,” Reyes remarked, affirming Gajo’s play. Words from Rica Diane Famillaran, an alumna and a former comrade of Gajo, further heightened how Gajo’s valor was consistent in going against the opponent--a prowess to keep the Golden Eagles soar high. “Sometimes, no matter how efficient you are, you will always encounter challenges for you to become an effective leader,” noted Gajo. Holding the title as the team captain of the women’s chess varsity team gave her a gnawing feeling that such an opportunity would be a herculean task different from the previous years. “A lot of things occur online these days. Chess applications and tournaments, for instance, are accessible anytime and anywhere. Our team also has chess trainings during Saturdays through Stockfish, an application, and online chess tournament site,” she stated. ReaCHInG THe endGaMe While the thrill of becoming
a Grandmaster remains one of Gajo’s greatest ultimatums, a nostalgic memory from her days as an amateur player surfaced in her mind. “Sometimes, training sessions are funded by the school, but the session itself becomes distracting as it is one trainer versus more or less eight players,” she expressed. With it, an urgency to establish a hub for aspirants to gain a tip or two from chess grandmasters individually was added to her list. “I want to instill in the mind of others that chess is not only for the older generation, those who have money, or those srelected by the school. It is for everyone all ages and statuses in life,” she further asserted. Eagle eyes darted to the opponent’s King piece, and with a snap, it toppled. “Checkmate,” she grinned. The Queen, Gajo, stood victorious, a blazing red in a sea of blacks and whites.
TerIToryo ng mga PIlIPInang KamPeonaTo VaMPIRe QUeen Marlyn Rose Marcelo, SHS-STEM’21 Scan code to send an email reply Sa nalalapit na Tokyo 2020 Olympics na magsisimula ngayong Hulyo 2, hindi nagpatinag ang mga babaeng manlalaro ng bansa sa kanilang pangarap na makapasok sa kompetisyong ito. Simula pa lang noong 2018 Asian Games, sila na ay nangunguna sa iba’t ibang kategorya ng laro matapos angkinin ang 12 sa 18 na medalya mula sa continental games, kabilang na rito ang apat na gintong medalya. Sa gitna ng bagsik na dala ng pandemya sa buong mundo, tunay na hindi nito natibag ang determinasyon at lakas ng loob ng mga Pilipinang manlalaro na mamayagpag sa kani-kanilang karera sa Philippine sports sa loob at labas ng bansa. Kung kaya’t patunay lamang ito na ang mga Pilipinang manlalaro ay kayang umangat sa kahit anong larangan ng paglalaro at may kakayahang iangat ang bandera ng Pilipinas. Ito ay dahil sa patuloy na pamamayagpag ng mga Pilipinang manlalaro sa pang-internasyonal na entablado, sa kabila ng mga pagsubok ng lipunan ukol sa mga kababaihang may matataas na pangarap sa larangan ng paglalaro. Patunay na rito ang ilan sa mga Pilipinang manlalaro na inaasahang mag-uwi ng kauna-unahang gintong medalya ng Olympics. Sila ay sina Hidilyn Diaz, isang weightlifter na nakahakot ng silver medal noong 2016 Rio Olympics, Irish Magno, ang boksingera na dakong Janiuay, Iloilo na naging unang Pillipinang boksingero na nakwalipika sa Tokyo 2020 Olympics sa pamamagitan ng unanimous decision na panalo sa women’s flyweight division, at ang Filipino-American na si Kristina Knott, isang atleta na napabilib ang buong sambayanan noong giniba niya ang 200m dash record ng Pilipinas noong 2019 SEA Games.
“nakakabilib iSipin na ang pilipinaS, Sa ngayong heneraSyon, ay nananatiling teritoryo ng mga pilipinang kampyonato Sa kabila ng mga hamon ng mundo. “ Ngunit sa kabila ng mga karangalang ito, hindi pa rin natin maikukubli ang katotohanang mayroon pa ring pangungutya, pagdududa, pagdiskrimina, at pagmamanipula sa mga kakayahan at abilidad ng mga kababaihan na maghari sa industriya ng paglalaro. Dapat na ipinagmamalaki ng sambayanang Pilipino ang mga kababaihang ito na lakas-loob na iwinawagayway ang bandera ng Pilipinas sa internasyonal na entablado. Matatandaan noong nakaraang taon lamang, nagsumpa ang bise presidente ng National Basketball League na si Rhose Montreal na ayaw niya na maulit pa ang nagawang pagkakamali sa Philippine Basketball Association 3x3 tournament noong 2016, kung saan pinagbawalan mag “boy-cut” na buhok ang mga kababaihan kung kaya’y ang ibang babaeng manlalaro ay hindi na naglaro at ang iba naman ay napilitang sumunod para lamang sa kanilang hilig at pangarap. Ito ay iilan lamang sa mga nakakabahalang isyu na kailangang harapin ng mga kababaihang manlalaro sa pagkamit ng kanilang inaasam-asam na tagumpay. Hindi pa rito kasama ang mga nauulat na isyu sa mga tagasanay at reperi, tungkol sa hindi makatarungang suweldo, hindi pantay na mga oportunidad, kawalan ng natatanging suporta sa pagpakita ng kanilang mga abilidad sa masa, at pati na rin ang kawalan ng magrerepresenta sa kanila. Kahit ang Women’s National Basketball Association ng Estados Unidos na umiiral na noong taong 1997 pa lang ay nakakaranas pa rin ng ganitong mga isyu. Patunay lamang na laganap ang ganitong mga problema sa halos lahat ng mga babaeng atleta sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo. Bagamat may matinding krisis na hinaharap natin dulot ng pandemya, hindi ito kailanma’y naging hadlang sa mga Pilipinang manlalaro sa pagkamit ng kanilang adhikaing mapasakamay ang gintong medalya at maiuwi sa bansa. Sa halip na magpakalugmok sa mga hamong ito, mas pinag-igihan pa nila ang pag-eensayo sa kanikanilang laro. Ngunit may mga pagbabago na sa kanilang pagsasanay sapagkat may mga health protocols na kailangang sundin at maging ang lugar na pagsasanayan nila ay may mga mahigpit na panuntunan upang mapanatili ang kanilang kaligtasan maging ng kanilang tagasanay at kapwa manlalaro. Nang dahil rin sa pandemya, naipagpaliban ang Tokyo 2020 Olympics na nakatalana sanang maganap sana noong Hulyo hanggang Agosto. Ngunit katulad ng sinabi ni Magno, ang pagpaliban na ito ay hindi naging hadlang upang maghanda sa nalalapit na laban, sa halip ay mas pinag-igihan pa lalo ang pag-eensayo sa kabila ng mga pagbabago sa nakasanayang pagsasanay. Ayon pa sa interview sa kaniya ng CNN Philippines, nahirapan sila noong nag-eensayo pa sila online na kung saan walang coach na umaagapay at nagsasanay sa kanila kung kaya’t laking tuwa at pagpasalamat na lang nito noong nagkaroon sila ng pagkakataong makapag-ensayo sa training bubble sa Calamba, Laguna. Ang masasabi ko lang sa mga Pilipinang manlalaro ng bansa, hindi pa man din kayo sumasabak sa laban sa Palarong Olimpiko, tunay na isa na kayong kampeonato para sa mga Pilipino sapagkat napatunayan niyo na sa kabila ng kahit anong balakid sa larangan na inyong napili, nanatiling matibay at buo pa rin ang inyong loob na makamit ang inaasam-asam na tagumpay para sa inyong bansang sinilangan. Sa panahon ngayon, lahat tayo ay may magagawa upang masuportahan ang mga babaeng manlalaro ng bansa. Tayo ay nasa tahanan ng mga kampyonato sa paglalaro kung kaya’y halina’t magbigay suporta sa mga Pilipinang atleta na patuloy na lumalaban para sa Pilipinas sa kabila ng mga hamon ng mundo, lalong lalo na sa nalalapit nilang laban sa Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tunay nga na ang laro ay higit pa sa panglibangan - ito ay maaari ring daan upang makatulong, makapagbigay inspirasyon, at maging gabay tungo sa mas magandang kinabukasan.
