Tigers Peg Fourth Slot

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws let go in the middle quarters to have University of Santo Tomas formally advance into the stepladder series, the defending champions winning, 80-69, on September 17 at the Araneta Coliseum where the shrill of the crowd had the power of over 9000.
The Growling Tigers limited FEU to six points in the second quarter, while Dylan Ababou received the spheroid at the side for a three-point basket and largest deficit, 59-35, 2:50 of the third.

"Buhay na naman kami. Kapag gipitan, mas masarap manalo,"

remarked UST head coach Pido Jarencio.

"Ang Tigre mabagsik kapag playoff."

Jervy Cruz, who had the crowd chanting "MVP", showed his worth with 17 points, 5/11 at the field, 7/7 at the line, and 14 rebounds. Anthony Espiritu went for 12 markers, two assists, and two steals.

Ababou and Khasim Mirza had identical stats of 11 points, four boards, and a block. Japs Cuan had a near triple-double of eight markers, nine rebounds, eight feeds, and six turnovers.

Jarencio's driving force to his wards were, "Wala ng bukas. Ayaw ko pang mag-bakasyon."

Reil Cervantes was thrown out with 17 points on 7/11 shooting, nine caroms, and eight errors. Mac Baracael made 15, seven, and four feeds.

This is just the beginning of the struggle for the Tigers, who would next go against the loser of the Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University tug of war for the twice-to-beat to be held on September 18 at the Big Dome on 3pm.

FEU surprised the hosts with a 14-7 boost to begin the hostilities, with Baracael putting it in, 4:56 of the first period.

Espiritu's quick reverse midway of the second gave UST the lead for good, 25-23, 5:20. The black and gold then limited the Tams scoreless for four and a half minutes, while they built a 39-25 halftime pad with Ababou credited for seven of the points in that 14-2 blast.

With the España-based squad controlling the third quadrant, Far Eastern went Custer in the final ten minutes, relying on the three-point shot for solace. The green and gold did manage to go within single digits with Paul Sanga's three at the corner coming from an Andy Barroca drive and dish, 66-75, 1:46

THE DREAM IS NOT YET DEAD

Staving off eligibility controversies and last second heartbreakers, the UST Growling Tigers ended all doubts about their ability to defend the crown as they mauled two of their last three assignments to muscle its way into the final spot in the step-ladder round of the UAAP Season 70 Basketball wars.

Due to the University of the East (UE) Red Warrior’s immaculate 14-0 record in the elimination round, they automatically enter the finals, an incentive given by the UAAP to a team that earns an immaculate slate.

As a result, instead of having the traditional Final Four format, a step ladder elimination round is employed wherein the third and fourth ranked team battle in a winner-take all match.

The second ranked squad meanwhile, will hold a twice to beat advantage and will take on the winner of the playoff between the third and fourth team.

The Growling Tigers, who now sport a 9-6 win-loss record, defeated the rookie-laden Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 80-69, in their rubber match last September 17 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigers showed no fear in the do or die playoff game, burying the stigma caused by two previous defeats at the hands of their Morayta-based counterparts.

The España-based dribblers blew the game wide-open after they unleashed a 14-2 blast capped-off by a Dylan Ababou floater through the heart of the Tamaraw defense to give UST a 39-25 edge heading into halftime.

From there, the UST lead ballooned, going up to as much as 24 points, 59-35, midway into the third quarter.

But the tenacious Tamaraws refused to fade into oblivion as FEU forwards Paul Sanga and Marnel Baracael conspired in a 14-4 blast to whittle away the UST lead to mere nine points with 1:44 remaining in the game.

MVP candidate Jervy Cruz hit a pair of crucial free-throws to hammer in the final nail in the coffin on the Tamaraws’ title bid with less then a minute to go.

Tigers coach Pido Jarencio credits the mismatches created by his defensive play calling as the catalyst for the blow-out win.

“I mixed-up the defense in the second quarter which confused our opponents, they found it hard to score,” Jarencio told the Varsitarian.

“Our defensive pressure, in turn, created much better scoring opportunities for us.”

Slotman Cruz played another monster game, producing a game-high 17 points and 14 rebounds to make-up for his poor showing in the previous game.

NO 6-PEAT FOR ‘GAWI, SETTLES FOR 2nd

Of all the colors in the Big Dome that day, maroon stood out.

The University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe(SDT) failed to defend their UAAP Cheer Dance Competition championship title, as the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad brought home the title this year with a 0.5 margin in the scores, during the dance-off last September 16 at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

SDT, with a ‘retro’-theme came second with 92.16 points. The 5-peat champions for this year was dethroned by the UP Pep Squad who garnered 92. 66 with their rock-themed cheer dance. The Far Eastern University Pep Squad (FEUPS) came third with 91.66 and bagged P69,000 as prize.

The Espana-based dance troupe, choreographed by Ryan Silva, won the championship title five-straight times from 2002 to 2006.

Champs UP Pep Squad grabbed the championship in 2001. This year, they won a trophy and the top prize of P172,500, aside from clenching the thirst of the championship title.

This is the UP Pep Squad’s 4th championship title, after their 3-peat from 1999-2001. UST-SDT already won eight titles since the Cheer Dance Competition was established in 1995.

The five other schools were ranked as: Ateneo de Manila University Blue Bubble Battalion - 4th; Adamson University Pep Squad -5th; University of the East Pep Squad – 6th; De La Salle University Pep Squad -7th; National University Pep Squad - 8th.

The cheer dance was judged according to choreography (50%), synchronization (30 %), audience audibility (10 %) and costume(10 %).

** I wasn't able to grab a ticket for today's cheerdance competition because, at the first place, I prefer to watch it on television so that I can be able to watch the stunts and pyramids clearly. The first to perform was DLSU followed by UP, FEU, NU, AdU, UST, UE and ADMU. I would like to credit them all because they had really done a great job. I really enjoyed watching each team and it's as if I'm watching a professional cheerdance competition. Sadly, hindi namin nakuha yung 6 peat!...6 years consecutive championship na sana kaya lang we just reached the 2nd spot. It isn't bad after all..pero syempre mas okei yung 1st place.

UP made it to the top. Hindi ko masyadong nagustuhan yung cheerdance nila kasi black and maroon yung color nila and then medyo magulo na sa end part. Pero, infairness, ganda ng opening part nila and unique yung mga stunts na ginawa nila. Sa part naman ng UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (STD), I love their performance...it's soo cute! Especially the yellow wig retro style part. But then there was an error during the first pyramid stunt of the group. Yung isang girl hindi niya nabalance yung sarili niya habang pabuo na ng pyramid, so hindi nacomplete yung stunt...nung nahulog nga yung girl, super sigawan yung mga students sa crowd. Then, medyo nakulangan din ako sa performance nila..much simpler compared to last year. Ewan ko ba kung bakit ganon, pero maganda parin. After ko mapanood yung sa UST nafeel ko agad na we can't be able to defend our title na...bye-bye 6 peat!

Luckily, we placed 2nd. I even thought na 3rd pa nga kami eh. Just come to think of it..may error na nga yung performance naka2nd place pa..kamusta naman yun? So, it means..magaling talaga! FEU placed 3rd. Actually, bet ko pa FEU kasi they look like penguins on their costumes and with their cheerdance. Kaya lang, hindi sila synchronize..medyo magulo, pero okei na rin.

After all what matters the most is that UST was almost there..0.5 point margin...a bit close, huh? Wait for next year and for sure STD will have the trophy again..(.^__^.)

Chances...

The play-offs game of UST vs. FEU will indeed be a “do or die” game for both teams..so I bought tickets! Of course…there’s a big possibility kasi na last game na ng UST yun for this season. Sayang naman kung nde ko yun mawi-witness. And as always…I’m with my friend, Medalene. Hindi na talaga makatanggi sa kin si medz everytime na may game. She even told me na big influence daw ako sa kanya kasi na-addict daw siya sa uaap dahil sa akin. Hmmmm..if I know..dahil naman kay ****** yun eh..(.^__^.)

I knew at once na the tickets I have are lucky ones. You know what? Eh kasi ganito yung story nun. Last Saturday, plan na namin ng friend ko na bumili ng tickets for the said game. But since we’re a bit hungry na..we bought our food muna. Time-check - - 11:20pm. After that, we went to TYK building to buy tickets from the SOCC..pagdating namin dun may nakasulat na sold-out na! Kinabahan agad ako kasi naubusan na ako ng tickets…huhu.. pero meron pa naman nakasulat sa tabi nung sold-out sign na “buy tickets at IPEA”..sus! meron pa pla eh..kaya nde applicable ang sold-out na word..(.^__^.)
Ako naman, since super excited na akong bumili..ako nlang yung pumunta sa UST gym, para matapos na rin kasi masyado ng napoprolong ang aking longing and agony eh. Even though sa Monday pa yung game, when will I be able to buy a ticket? On a Sunday? Eh di super sold-out na kaya pinilit ko tlga nung Saturday.

Pagdating ko sa UST gym, sarado yung mga offices dun..feeling ko at first chances are fooling me kasi parang ayaw akong pabilhin ng ticket. Tapos, wala pang practice yung mga UST tigers..grrr! Buti nlang nakita ko si kuya guard and tinuro niya sa akin yung place kung saan bumibili. Dun pla sa faculty room ng mga IPEA professors siya available.
At last! At long last! makakabili na rin ako.. and good thing walang pila.
Shucks..may uaap ticket syndrome na yata ako..can’t get enough of it eh.
Eh di yun na nga, may inabutan pa akong student na bumibili ng ticket, so it means meron pa naman. Paglapit ko dun sa professor na nagbigay ng ticket dun sa other student, nakita ko ba naman agad si Dylan sa loob ng faculty room. He looks so hot in black! Not literally hot..I mean, good looking of course. When I saw him, buti nlang nde pa siya nakatingin dun sa may spot kung nasaan ako..nde naman niya kasi masyadong pinapansin yung mga bumibili ng tickets.

Pero..not until the time when I was there..eto ang exciting part..

When I asked the lady kung may upper A pa, sinabi niya na ubos na. So sabi ko, sige po, okei na yung upper B. 3 tickets yung binili ko. Nung tapos na yung conversation, tiningnan ko agad yung ID ko..shucks, nakatalikod..hinarap ko agad para makita yung malaking pre-com ID ko na may obvious na “marielle” na name..para naman makita nung mga tao dun sa loob,
for example yung professor na binilhan ko..kasi baka kailangan niya ng record ng mga bumili..hehe…baka may incentives sa P.E ko na basketball..saka para makita narin nung ibang tao dun. Feel ko kasi familiar face nalang lagi..nde familiar name..haha! (.^__^.)
After nun, nde ako makatingin sa ibang tao..feel ko ang awkward ng actions ko dun..pero nde siguro. Ah basta! Alam niyo naman ako..shy type…(.^__^.) Pero, syempre I didn’t stand that situation, napilitan narin akong lumingon, and then pagtingin ko...

ui! Si Dylan, nagsmile! (.^__^.)..
and then that approving, appreciative, favorable look. waaah! So ano pa ba magagawa ko..eh di smile back! Take note..nde ako nauna nyan hah. Mr. Nice guy talaga oh! Tama nga sila...tama ang choice ko..hehe..(.^__^.)
Nde naman ako makasabi ng used line ko na "hi dylan!" kasi ang daming professors sa loob, nandun pa yung prof ko sa social dance last semester. Baka kung ano pa sabihin nila..so I opt not to.
After na mabigay yung tickets, umalis na ako. Weird naman kung magstay pa ko dun no..wala naman dun yung practice so, no reason for overstaying! Maybe pag may nagdrawing ng face ko habang naglalakad back to our building, for sure this is what it will look like:
(.^__^.) (.^__^.) (.^__^.) (.^__^.) => getz??!

Pano ba yan, panalo na UST sa Monday...These tickets that I have are lucky charms.
And..I'm a lucky charm too..

UST vs. FEU 2nd round

University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers lose on the their crucial game against the Far Eastern University Tamarraws, 84-73, forcing a playoff for the fourth slot in the semifinals of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) senior men's basketball tournament.

Tiger priced rookie Khasim Mirza registered 12 points in the game, including two from the three point country. Jervey Cruz, however, was not in his usual self when he only scored 13 points and missing 7 out 8 from the charity stripe.

The Espana-based ballers started the game stronger, even creating a three point lead, 9-6, but was later on shut with a 8-0 run from the Morayta cagers, consecutive baskets from Marnel Baracael, Riel Cervantes, and Aldrech Ramos. The first quarter ended 16-20, favoring the Tamarraws.

Layups from Dylan Ababou and Chester Taylor, and a three-pointer from Mirza brought the game into a dreadlock, 21-all, with under seven minutes left in the seconds quarter. The Tigers and the Tamarraws struggled for the baskets, as they created three more dreadlocks in the quarter.

However, baskets from Baracael, Paul Sanga, and Sanny Abaring ended the period, giving the Tamarraws a 9-point advantage, 30-39.
The Tigers were suddenly awakened in the 3rd quarter, they managed to bring the game into another dreadlock, 42-all, with a basket from Cruz, with the help of a steal and assist from Japs Cuan.

The two teams were neck-to-neck as the scores were in see-saw and the Tigers ended the third quarter with a point advantage, 59-58.

However, occasional turnovers and missed baskets brought the Tigers to their doom, as Tamarraw’s score drifted, even creating a 10-point advantage with less than three minutes left in the ballgame.

UST failed to recover as the game ended 84-73.

Quarter scores (UST-FEU): 14-19, 30-39, 59-58-, 73-84

THOMASIANS SHOW SUPPORT TO GROWLING TIGERS

WHILE thousands were glued to their TV sets watching the UAAP games between UST and FEU on September 13, at the University campus, students, faculty members and employees displayed a strong show of support by coming in full force to watch the game on TomCat TV at the Main Building Lobby and lobbies of the colleges and faculties. The crowd shared the same intense emotions with their Thomasian counterpart who watched the game live at the Araneta Coliseum. In campus, Thomasians also cheered their hearts out for the Growling Tigers. Their loyalty was evident to the end, refusing to leave the lobbies even during the game’s dying seconds.

UST faces FEU once again on Monday, September 17 for the last semi-final slot. The Tigers are expected to carry the fight against the Tamarraws; and once more, the Thomasian community will indefatigably cheer for the Growling Tigers.

Federer wins 4th straight U.S. Open for 12th major title

(Sept. 9, 2007) - Arthur Ashe Stadium
NEW YORK (AP) -- The chase is on.

Roger Federer used to shy away from talking about overtaking Pete Sampras in the Grand Slam record book. Not these days. Not with Sampras so close.

Able to come through when it counts the most, Federer just keeps adding to his trophy collection.
In the U.S. Open final Sunday, Federer sure offered his opponent plenty of chances to pull off an upset. He knows how to win these things, though, while Novak Djokovic is learning, and that made all the difference in Federer's 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory for a fourth consecutive U.S. Open championship and 12th Grand Slam title.

Federer is the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win the American Grand Slam four years running. He's won the last five Wimbledon titles, too, along with three overall at the Australian Open.

So on Sunday, still only 26 years old, Federer moved ahead of a couple of guys named Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver on the career Slam list and tied Roy Emerson for second place, two away from Sampras' 14.

"I think about it a lot now," Federer said of Sampras' mark.
"To come so close at my age is fantastic, and I hope to break it."

How many Slams can he win?

"I don't know," Federer said. "I hope more than Pete."

This one was a close call. The 20-year-old Djokovic was in his first Slam final, yet he led 6-5 in each of the opening two sets.

In the first, he held five set points. In the second, he held two.

Federer erased all of those, showing the craft and cool that have allowed him to hold the No. 1 ranking for the past 188 weeks, the longest run ever.

"My next book is going to be called, 'Seven Set Points,"' Djokovic said, flashing the sense of humor he displayed while doing on-court impersonations of other players after his quarterfinal victory.

On a more serious note, the No. 3-seeded Djokovic said of Federer:

"Once again, he showed he's the best."

In Djokovic, Federer was facing the only man to beat him over the past three months, but that was in early August at Montreal, not early September at New York, and in a Grand Slam tuneup, not the real deal.

So, not just talented with a racket but prescient, too, Federer pretty much predicted what would transpire. Shortly before walking out for Sunday's match, he said knowingly,

"It'll be interesting to see how he handles the final."

Sure was.

Roger Federer: Man in Black

Afterward, Federer spoke about having enjoyed getting another shot at Djokovic.
"New guys challenging me -- this is my biggest motivation out there," Federer said.

"Seeing them challenging me, and then beating them in the finals."

In the end, about the only category Djokovic won on this day was "Most Intriguing Guests," with 2006 Open champion Maria Sharapova -- "just a friendship," he said -- and actor Robert De Niro sharing a box with his parents in the stands.

Federer was dressed for an evening on the town -- all in black, from headwrap and wristband to socks and shoes, from shirt to shorts with tuxedo-like satin stripes down the sides -- and he finished things under the lights by breaking Djokovic in the last game with the help of a no-look, over-the-shoulder volley winner.

It's the type of shot that has prompted plenty of people to call Federer the greatest to ever swing a racket.

Which is why, at the start, it was surprising to see Federer struggle as much as he did. When he double-faulted, then sprayed two forehands long, Djokovic broke to go up 6-5, with a chance to serve for the set.

And then Djokovic raced to a 40-love edge.

Three set points.

Three chances to take a one-set lead against Federer in the U.S. Open final.

And just like that, they vanished: Federer hit a cross-court forehand winner that caught a line, and Djokovic missed two backhands.

Then came two more set points that Federer erased. Then, in the tiebreaker, Djokovic made three backhand errors and two double-faults, including on the last point.

"He knows what it feels like to be in that kind of situation. He knows how to cope with the pressure," Djokovic said. "For me, this is something new."
It showed again later.

When Federer served while trailing 6-5 in the second set, Djokovic let two more set points go by the wayside. Again they went to a tiebreaker, and again Federer was better. When he ended it with a backhand passing winner down the line -- placing the ball through the one, tiny opening there was -- Federer skipped toward the sideline, screamed and punched the air.

Djokovic had one last opportunity to climb back into the match, getting to love-40 when Federer served at 2-2 in the third set. But Federer took five points in a row, making Djokovic 2-for-9 on break chances.

Federer takes home a Grand Slam-record $2.4 million in prize money:$1.4 million for winning the tournament, plus a $1 million bonus because he finished atop the U.S. Open Series standings based on performances at hard-court tuneup events.

From 1970 to 2005, no man -- not a single one! -- reached all four Grand Slam finals in a calendar year. Now Federer has turned that trick two years in a row. Actually, his streak stretches back to 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals, and he's won eight. And if it weren't for a certain indefatigable Mallorcan who goes by the name Rafael Nadal -- and beat him in the last two French Open finals -- Federer might have won all 10.

About an hour after Sunday's match, Djokovic walked outside the stadium to join about a dozen friends and relatives. He posed for photos, then Dad helped him pop a bottle of champagne. Clearly, Djokovic was happy to be here.
Federer wanted the victory.

He was asked whether Djokovic is ready to overtake the second-ranked Nadal.
"No. 2, No. 3 -- it doesn't matter much," Federer said. "It's No. 1 that matters."

** Congratulations Roger for winning the game. I watched it live earlier this morning on television and it's a great match. Seeing my two most favorite male tennis players on hardcourt makes sense. My eyes were really feasting..enjoying a lot!
To give credit for Novak Djokovic,he's a brave man to play such competitive game against the world no. 1. (.^__^.)And for Roger, I really love him..he's a great tennis player! He's just.. SIMPLY THE BEST! (.^__^.)


More pictures from the finals! Enjoy... =)

Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York: With over 700,000 avid tennis fans from all over the world.

ATP - NOT AN EASY TASK

Roger has reached the next round in New York, dropping his first set of the tournament against America’s John Isner.
Roger shred the local's Grand Slam dream 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

Our star took a set to work out the rocket-like serve of the super-sized former university student, who was playing in only his second ATP-level event.

"He's one of the best servers, it's hard to play guys like him," said Roger, who had zero unforced errors in the second and third sets.

"I picked up his serve form the second set. But he's been playing fantastic the last few weeks"

Roger lost the opening set in a tiebreaker, then got down to business in dismantling the raw, unpolished game of Isner, who stands nearly 2.05 meters. The number one used his precision to glide past his third successive opponent ranked outside the top 100 this week. He committed just two unforced errors in more than two hours on court.

Roger won his 23rd match at the Open, where he was last beaten in 2003. Our top seed dominated after the first set, with errors piling up as fast as aces for the youngster. He will next face Feliciano Lopez from Spain.

** There you go..another update about Roger Federer. By the way, US Open tennis grand slam event in New York started last August 27. I don't have that enough time to update much about his games because, as usual, I'm too busy. But just this afternoon, as I was checking my eleap account at the UST library computer lab for my NSTP program, I was surprised to see Roger Federer played against this 6'9 tennis player from Georgia, John Isner. This match happened on a Sunday, Monday morning here in the Philippines.

Look at the pics..he's so tall! Medyo lumiit tuloy yung look ni Roger sa pictures..hehe (.^__^.) I got fond of looking at the pics that's why I decided to post it here on my blog.

Here's other pictures of Roger Federer and the match.