SPORTS

Sports

The Varsitarian FEBRUARY 14, 2021

UST STUDENT-ATHLETES KEEP SCHOLARSHIPS DESPITE CANCELLED UAAP SEASON

UST will retain scholarships for all its student-athletes during the new academic year despite the cancellation of UAAP Season 83, its athletics director said.

The Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) earlier announced that scholarships granted during the second semester of academic year (AY) 2019-2020 would be valid until the first term of 20202021, which ended in December.

“It’s true that UST will retain the scholarships of our student-athletes for the 2nd term of AY 2020-2021,” Fr. Rodel Cansancio, the IPEA director, told the Varsitarian.

“In this time of pandemic and uncertainties, no student should be left behind.”

The UAAP board in December announced it would not hold its 83rd season citing the health and safety of student-athletes as Covid-19 cases in the country continued to balloon.

Rodrigo Sambuang, UST’s athletics moderator, told the Varsitarian that 579 collegiate and 330 highschool athletes would benefit from the scholarship extension.

“All scholarships given last [term] will be offered the same this [term],” he said.

Sambuang also disclosed that UST would do away with the “team A, team B” system, and reserves for each sport would be placed on training

In this time of pandemic and uncertainties, no student should be left behind.

—Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P.

IPEA DIRECTOR pools instead.

Those assigned to training pools would remain scholars of the University, he affirmed.

According to UST Tracksters head coach Manny Calipes, the scholarship extensions inspired student-athletes under his wing to train harder even without competitions in sight.

“Nag-New Year conference ‘yung team to express their gratitude sa school. We are all in high spirits and they are already sending training videos this week without being told,” he told the Varsitarian.

UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag in December said a September 2021 start of Season 84 was being eyed should the country’s pandemic situation improve. ROMMEL BONG

R. FUERTES JR. WITH REPORTS FROM JOHN EZEKIEL J. HIRRO

Long-time Teletiger joins Liyab Esports

BY JAMES PAUL REYES GOMEZ

AFTER four years with the UST Teletigers, Jan Edward “Cresho” Hortizuela will carry the Philippine flag as a member of Liyab Esports, an esports team representing the country in various international League of Legends (LOL) tournaments.

“Pressure is really different, especially I’m not only representing the school now but also given the opportunity to play for Liyab, to represent our flag, our country,” Hortizuela, a former support player of the Teletigers, told the Varsitarian.

Known for being one of the top support players in the Philippines, Hortizuela said that the experience he earned during his four years with the Teletigers would help him in his pro stint.

Hortizuela was part of the Teletigers roster that won AcadArena championships and got to represent the country thrice in the International Esports Festival against top universities in Asia the past few years.

“I only think that I understand the game out of many other players. I’m known for reaching rank one in the Philippines for three seasons as a support main.”

UST administrator named PH sports ambassador

THE CHAIRMAN of UST’s sports management program has been appointed as one of the Philippine ambassadors of the International Organization for Health, Sports, and Kinesiology (IOHSK).

Assoc. Prof. Jerome Porto of the UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics was among the nine new appointees to the organization.

Porto, along with two other ambassadors from the Philippines and six representatives from other countries was inaugurated on Dec. 29, 2020.

Dr. Hosung So, chief executive officer of IOHSK, said 18 applicants applied for the position.

“The international ambassadors were voted and elected by the board of directors in IOHSK. The election process was very competitive,” he told the Varsitarian.

Having three Philippine ambassadors in the IOHSK, which has 700 members in the country, was proof of the influence the country has in the organization, said So.

Under IOHSK’s mandate, the duties of an international ambassador focus on the propagation of the organization’s activities in coordination with new members and other country representatives.

Porto’s one-year term as an IOHSK international ambassador began on Jan.1 and will end in December 2021.

“Each ambassador represents IOHSK in his/ her country. Faculty, like Dr. Jerome Porto, are the most important persons in our organization,” So said.

IOHSK is a Los Angeles-based organization that promotes high-quality research worldwide in the areas of health, sports and kinesiology.

According to its website, it has more than 2,000 members worldwide in over 60

Assoc. Prof. Jerome Porto

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IPEA alumni awarded int’l scholarships by global sports org

BY ANNA CLARISSA M. BARLAM

TWO INSTITUTE of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) alumni have been granted international student scholarships by the International Organization for Health, Sports and Kinesiology (IOHSK). Aljireh Lan Fuchigami and Rica-Ella Polante were among the 16 recipients of the international scholarship in the college category who were cited for academic excellence and dedication to contribute and serve their communities. “This is such a great privilege to be chosen as one of the international scholarship grantees among numerous applicants across the globe,” Pollante said.

FUCHIGAMI

POLANTE

Fuchigami said he was grateful for being selected as they were only limited slots worldwide.

Assoc. Prof. Jerome Porto, one of the Philippine envoys of the organization, said both athletes were deserving of the grant.

“Both Mr. Fuchigami and Pollante are outstanding in their academics,” Porto told the Varsitarian.

As an ambassador from UST, Porto can recommend students from the University and vote to select the scholarship recipients.

Financial assistance worth $100 will also be provided to Fuchigami and Pollante by the IOHSK.

“This scholarship is designed to acknowledge our international and student members’ academic success and community services. We hope they will continue to succeed in their academic, professional and personal lives,” Dr. Hosung So, chief executive officer of IOHSK, told the Varsitarian.

According to Fuchigami and Pollante, they will use the cash grant for their academic fees as they pursue their master’s degrees at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Fuchigami and Pollante both graduated magna cum laude last academic year from IPEA. They majored in sports and wellness management.

Fuchigami was the former team captain of the UST Golden Booters last season and a part of the football team since first-year college. Pollante was a working scholar under the San Lorenzo Ruiz scholarship of UST..