UAAP Season 78: First Semester General Championship Standings

GC TALLY

De La Salle University finished the first semester of the UAAP at second place in the rankings with a total of 153 points behind University of Santo Tomas, which garnered 155 points.

Here is a quick breakdown of DLSU’s performance for every event in the first half of the UAAP Season:

Basketball

Twice-to-beat. Teams work hard in the elimination rounds to have this advantage come the Final Four. Twice-in-a-row. The Lady Archers failed to capitalize on that advantage and failed to make it to the Finals.

Who would have thought that it is possible for lightning to strike the same place twice? Last season’s shocking loss in the Final Four was once again experienced by the DLSU Lady Archers in another painful defeat, this time at the hands of rivals, Ateneo Lady Eagles.

GC BBALL

Finishing third, the Lady Archers earned a total of 10 points for DLSU. This Season also marked the end of the UAAP careers of Ria Pineda, team captain Alyanna Ong, and Ara Abaca, who is one of the most decorated (five individual awards) players to ever play for La Salle.

As for the men’s team, even after much talk during the offseason, losing big man Arnold Van Opstal, the ineligibility of prized recruit Ben Mbala, the injury of Joshua Torralba and starting guard Kib Montalbo, the Green Archers still entered the season with high hopes for another impressive run; they, however, encountered hurdles too high for them to handle throughout the Season.

DLSU finished the first round of eliminations at 2nd place with a 4-3 win-loss card, wins came in, including a huge victory against rivals, Ateneo Blue Eagles and the boys in Green and White looked like a team which could potentially make it all the way but the Green Archers ended up losing five of their last seven games and missed the Final Four by the skin of their teeth.

The Green Archers finished the Season at fifth place to give La Salle six General Championship points.

Individual awards:

Rookie of the Year – Joshua Andrei A. Caracut

Mythical Five Selection – Jeron Alvin U. Teng

Mythical Five Selection – Aracelie E. Abaca

Badminton

GC badminton

Repeat. The Green Shuttlers once again had a bridesmaid finish in this year’s badminton tournament. DLSU had a strong showing for this Season, but couldn’t overcome the undefeated National University Bulldogs and finished second once again to give DLSU 12 points.

The Lady Shuttlers on the other hand, improved one spot from their fourth place outing last year to gain a podium finish this year. The Lady Shuttlers fought hard during the elimination rounds to garner a twice-to-beat advantage come the Final Four. They however, fell victim to Ateneo’s wrath and ended up losing twice in a row to finish third overall, giving DLSU 10 points.

Swimming

GC swimming

As promised by team captain Vince Raymundo before the start of the Season, the Green and Lady Tankers indeed gave it their all and got the job done. They finished the season at 2nd and 3rd places respectively to give DLSU 12 and 10 points.

Medalists:

Arian Neil A. Puyo Men Rookie of the Year
Individual Gold 200m Backstroke
Individual Silver 100m Backstroke
Individual Silver 50m Backstroke
Individual Silver 200m Butterfly
Individual Bronze 200m Medley
Individual Bronze 400m Medley
Sabrina Ingrid C. Ilustre Women Individual Gold 200m Breastroke
Individual Silver 100m Breastroke
Individual Silver 200m Butterfly
Individual Bronze 100m Freestyle
Catherine C. Bondad Women Individual Silver 50m Backstroke
Individual Bronze 200m Backstroke
Individual Bronze 100m Backstroke
Team Silver 400m Medley Relay
Team Silver 200m Medley Relay
Leon Red L. Silvestre Men Team Gold 200m Freestyle Relay
Individual Silver 100m Butterfly
Individual Silver 50m Freestyle
Individual Silver 50m Butterfly
Team Silver 200m Medley Relay
Team Bronze 400m Freestyle Relay
Troy Jondan S. Espiritu Men Team Gold 200m Freestyle Relay
Team Silver 800m Freestyle Relay
Team Bronze 400m Medley Relay
Team Bronze 400m Freestyle Relay
Alfonso Jose L. Bautista Men Team Gold 200m Freestyle Relay
Team Silver 200m Medley Relay
Individual Bronze 50m Freestyle
Juan Miguel A. Narciso Men Team Gold 200m Freestyle Relay
Team Silver 200m Medley Relay
Ambrose Raymund P. Agustin Men Team Silver 200m Medley Relay
Team Bronze 400m Medley Relay
John Edward M. Velecina Men Team Silver 800m Freestyle Relay
Team Bronze 400m Freestyle Relay
Magali Christane B. Echauz Women Team Silver 200m Medley Relay
Sarah Bernadette T. Castañeda Women Team Silver 200m Medley Relay
Jia Jenise K. De Guzman Women Team Silver 200m Medley Relay
Mariah Noelle M. Panganiban Women Team Silver 400m Medley Relay
Mariel Andrea A. Carandang Women Team Silver 400m Medley Relay
Marie Glycel G. So Women Team Silver 400m Medley Relay
Sage Franz Eduard D. Yabut Men Team Silver 800m Freestyle Relay
Benjie Gregory A. Narciso Men Team Silver 800m Freestyle Relay
Jose Maria D. Santos Men Team Bronze 400m Medley Relay
Baron Joaquin T. Ong Men Team Bronze 400m Medley Relay
Jose Mari Luis V. Ereñeta Men Team Bronze 400m Freestyle Relay

Beach Volleyball

In the women’s division, the Lady Spikers finally earned their first ever Beach Volleyball crown. The road they took to get there was not the most ideal, the duo of Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo (third player: Ernestine Tiamzon), dropped the two of their first three games of their season but that did not hamper their spirits as they went on to win their next five games, including a do-or-die game against defending champion University of Santo Tomas. They then beat rivals, Ateneo Lady Eagles in the Final Four, and the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the Finals to give DLSU 15 General Championship points. Kim Fajardo was named the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

GC beach

On the other hand, the DLSU Green Spikers had another tough outing as they finished the tournament at 7th place, giving La Salle just two points.

Taekwondo

One up. One down. For this Season, the Green and Lady Jins finished the Tournament in third place of their specific divisions, both with 4-2 Win-Loss records.

GC taek

The Green Jins improved one place from last season’s fourth place finish to once again gain a spot on the podium while the Lady Jins dropped from a runner-up finish last year to 3rd place this year.

Bright side for the Green Jins is that they were the only team to hand a loss to the eventual champions, University of Santo Tomas and a bonus Rookie of the Year award for Green Jin Arsenal.

The double third place finishes gave DLSU 10 points per division.

The Poomsae team led by Rinna Babanto and Raphael Mella also finished at third place to give DLSU an additional 10 General Championship points.

Judo

judo

The Green Judokas finished this UAAP Season in third place with a total of 19 points, only one point above fourth place finishers, University of the Philippines while the Lady Judokas unfortunately missed the podium once again and finished the Tournament in fifth place with a total of six points.

The good showing of the Judokas gave La Salle 16 big points to DLSU’s General Championship count.

Table Tennis

Save the best for last. The Green and Lady Paddlers did not disappoint. For the second straight year, they won the Championships in both divisions.

The Lady Paddlers, led by Most Valuable Player Ian Lariba, finished the Season unscathed. They were undefeated during the elimination rounds to give them a thrice-to-beat advantage in the Finals where they swept Far Eastern University, two games to none to gain their second straight crown.

GC TABLE TENNIS 2

The Green Paddlers on the other hand, had more bumps during the Season. They lost some sets, dropped some games, but what is important is how they bounced back after every obstacle that came their way to come out on top and likewise earn the Championship.

From the double Championships in Table Tennis, DLSU earned the maximum of 15 points per division.

The first semester was filled with ups and downs, Championships and heartbreaking exits, but through it all, the University remained as one La Salle. Now that the second half of the UAAP Season is about to begin, it is time once again to pull back those arrows, aim high, and shoot for that elusive General Championship.

 

Four for Three

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The past few weeks have been challenging for the Lasallian sports community. In the middle of February, DLSU has all the cards to keep the General Championship (GC) on its cradle for the third straight year. However, unforeseen series of unfortunate defeats have come its way.

 

Leading the race

Way back March 4 when all games are done and only playoff standings are arguable in Baseball, Football, and Volleyball. Only women’s Softball is running its eliminations at this point. In the current standings, Men’s Baseball, Women’s Volleyball, and Men’s Football are poised to barge into the finals.

The Lady Batters then ranks 2nd with three more elimination games to go against NU, UP, and UST. If all places were cemented including Softball team standings, DLSU will be comfortably ahead by four even without any championship from the remaining squads. But after this day, everything turned around.

 

Painful stretch

DLSU’s men’s football team dispatched Ateneo in the semifinals but eventually bowed in a close encounter with FEU in the championship. Meanwhile, the Lady Batters dropped all their remaining games in a quick stretch. Their male counterparts in Baseball also loss a close finals encounter with eventual 3-peat Baseball champions, ADMU.

The only win in that more than a week stretch came from the four-set victory of the Lady Spikers against NU in the do-or-die semifinals. However, the team lost their captain before the match ended. Losing an ace before facing the well-rested Lady Eagles, the Spikers from Taft missed the series opener which puts Ateneo a game away from a back-to-back title.

 

Standing our ground

Currently, the Lady Batters are tied at fourth with NU as UST and UP are tied for second place. Tie breakers will be played for Softball to determine the final pairings. Second-seed will win a twice-to-beat advantage.

For women’s volleyball, to increase their share for the GC tally, three-straight victories have to pile up.

 

Unfinished race

With all the heartbreaks and unforeseen events, DLSU is not out of the Race. The Tomasians are up by three but four wins could turn the tides once more. Either four straight wins by the Lady Batters after a UST defeat as they barge to second place or they could win only one and root for a three-game streak from the Lady Spikers.

 

It boils down to four wins for a 3rd GC Crown.