Nursing volley belles grab first win

By Alfred Benedict Garrido

September 7, 2010- Fueled by will and a fearsome attitude, the Nursing Women’s volleyball team hammered the Arts and Letters squad deep into their grave, 25-22, 25- 20, drawing first blood in the opening matches of the 2010 Thomasian Goodwill games at the Seminary Complex gymnasium.

Nursing heated things up as they rode momentum early and stayed alive through two sets before finally sealing the deal. With sweet Vegas lines from team ace Maricris Alkuino, back up bullets fired by senior spiker Mira Aure, tough enough blocks built on junior Maat Atanacio’s shoulders and perfect sets by sophomore setter Melissa Caparros, the gold and green themed jerseys achieved the excellence of execution. “Issa [Caparros], our setter, gave us perfect tosses. That's why we were able to make kills,” says Alkuino. “Everyone did a great job! Everyone did their respective roles.” Unfortunately for Arts and Letters, Nursing went sky high from there and tasted victory, the only thing that they missed from last season. The win pushed the Nursing team on the Quarterfinals podium, a great way to start and finally end the El Niño spell they had been carrying from last year.

“We played with all our hearts. Attitude plays a big part, and we all had a positive attitude towards each other and to our game as well,” says Alkuino, “Hindi kami tensionado. We played our game and we enjoyed our game.”

ON THE ISSUE OF HAVING FOREIGN STUDENT ATHLETES PLAY IN THE PHILIPPINE INTER-COLLEGIATE GAMES

By John Vincent Ignacio, Faculty Member, UST College of Nursing

Whether it is a good decision to allow foreign student athletes participate in the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Games

OBJECTION 1: It seems that recruiting and allowing foreign student athletes play and participate in the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Games is acceptable since these foreigners would be able to boost the athletic and competitive standards of college games in the country with their skills and talents in their respective sports. Ergo, the inclusion of such is a good idea.

OBJECTION 2: Having foreigners in the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Games would seem to benefit the different universities and colleges of the country because having such will promote the institution’s international prestige and recognition which play a vital part during accreditation; therefore, this idea is a good one.

OBJECTION 3: Allowing foreign students participate in the country’s Inter-Collegiate Games increases the sports-entertainment industry’s growth by broadcasting and/or promoting such games with such players; hence, this is a good idea.

ON THE CONTRARY, The 1987 Philippine Constitution states that it is a constitutional commitment of the government (and presumably) by the state to encourage sports as an integral part of nation building. The inclusion of foreign students in Inter-Collegiate Games is arguably contrary to this state principle.

I ANSWER THAT the introduction of foreign student-athletes is detrimental to the average Filipino, tuition-fee-paying student. In the first place, having these foreign student-athletes participate in the Inter-Collegiate Games gives the impression that these foreign nationals are better than the Filipino students primarily in sports and as a corollary even in the field of academic excellence.

Secondly, universities and colleges who are recruiting and/or allowing foreign nationals to compete in these games are causing injustice to average Filipino students paying their FULL tuition fees. Varsity athletes are, for the most of the time, are scholars of their respective institutions. It is, therefore, logically safe to assume that the Filipino students are the ones subsidizing the educational expenses of these foreign nationals. Considering the hardships of our times, we are now asking our countrymen to educate foreigners. Even if we argue that external institutions or companies or persons are funding these foreigners’ education, it means, therefore, that a foreigner receives this privilege rather than the Filipino student – who should be prioritized to be given educational benefits. Assuming, on the other hand, that these foreign student-athletes are paying full tuition fees; the fact that they are included in the teams means that a Filipino student athlete has lost that slot in favor of the foreigner, thus this poor Filipino student athlete no longer has any opportunity to enjoy educational privileges.

Thirdly, as my very own students from the College of Nursing (III-8, thanks for the idea!) have said, Filipino student-athletes can no longer further their career in their preferred sport. For he has lost the opportunity to display his talents in the collegiate level, the probability of expanding his career to professional sports has been decreased considerably.

REPLY TO OBJECTION 1 To say that the inclusion of foreign student-athletes in the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Games boosts the athletic and competitive standards of the games can only be held true if it is universally acceptable to say that foreigners are INDEED superior to us, Filipinos, in sports. And this proposition is absurd to consider.

REPLY TO OBJECTION 2 It is true that national and international recognition are important aspects to promote a university’s or college’s accreditation status; however, this can be done in many other ways without putting our very own brothers and sisters in an unfair disadvantage. Exchange student programs and/or faculty exchange programs are a better option than putting foreigners in our varsity teams.

REPLY TO OBJECTION 3 It may be true to think that foreigners do make the games more appealing to game fans, considering the kind of colonial mentality that we still have in our social system. However, as stated above, it is a constitutional commitment of our government and the state to promote sports to OUR CITIZENS. Economic and/or financial gains brought about by the sensationalism of foreign student-athletes should never be taken as a reason to disregard the development of the FILIPINO STUDENT-ATHLETES.

CLOSING The Filipino student is arguably one of the best in the world. We must also recognize the fact that the Filipino Student-Athlete shares the same reputation. There is no REAL reason to recruit foreigners in the country’s Inter-Collegiate Games, except the false notion that these foreigners increase the chance of winning for the team. But the desire to win should not be prejudicial to our brothers and sisters. The inclusion of these foreign student-athletes in our inter-collegiate games is crystal clear, A BAD IDEA.

NVC gears towards Thomasian Goodwill Games

By Darwyn Daguman

The excitement for the upcoming Goodwill Games has never been this thrilling for every Thomasian who defied the long wait to see various colleges collide once again to prove who will dominate among the rest.

The Nursing army, as always, is eager to start. They unfolded their preparations for the upcoming games by taking their training to a whole new level of intensity and competition in the basketball court, in the football fields, and in the volleyball training grounds.

Blood, sweat and tears are laid on the line as players struggle to achieve honor and glory.

Nursing Women’s Basketball Team builds up for the Triple S

Things are heating up for the UST Nursing women’s basketball team as the days draw near for their upcoming game this November. Each training conference is worth anticipating as they try to build speed, stamina, and skills.

Krysteene Cruz, 18, has a lot to say with the beating they are taking to catapult their way to strength. “Tuwing Tuesdays at Thursdays lang ang training around 6-8 pm, pero kailangan sa labas ng school magpa-reserve ng court No reserved court means jog na lang sa UST and Frisbee,” Cruz said. Frisbee, as Cruz said, is perfect for coordinating team movements and synchronizing each player’s playing style.

“Stretching exercises and jogging every training for 10 minutes. No laps, just jog for 10 minutes,” said Cruz. Achieving lightning velocity is never easy for the team; but, they do it with thunderous passion. “For speed, we usually do sprinting, for example, ihahagis nila yung bato tapos hahabulin mo.”

Speed, stamina and skills go simultaneously to assimilate momentum in the game working well with bone stretching warm-up exercises, while repeatedly mastering the art of dribbling, passing, throwing, jump shots, and lay-ups.

Headed by Team Captain Lena Cruz, the squad strives to reload their machine gun offense and add adhesives to their defense as these two are vital strategies to team play. “2-3 or 3-2 zone, box out before rebound for the big man,” said Cruz. The whole battle ground is filled with the team’s backcourt and frontcourt cards ready to be laid down for a cause. Training is more than just upgrading skills; it’s about being one with the team, true to what Cruz had expressed, “Training isn’t only on improving skills but training to get to know each other as well.”

Nursing Men’s Basketball Troop suite up for War

Last August, tryouts opened and positions in the team were up for grabs to complete the battalion left by previous stars. Now, time is running fast and the clock is ticking for the Nursing Men’s Basketball Varsity and its new recruits, and each tick means gold that must not be wasted.

Kyle Fontanilla, a junior cager, takes the same pressure as the rest of the team, as he engages in rigorous training from field jogging to evening scrimmage at the court.

“As of now, syempre, nasa understanding each player and getting-to-know stage pa kami,” Fontanilla said. “Dapat may self-initiative and masipag ka. Kapag hindi ka masipag, una hindi ka gagaling at yari ka sa grades mo. Hindi pwede ang mayabang and at the same time, be thoughtful.”

Taking the training to extreme measures is not usual for varsity players. From the Mayon court in Rotonda to the Perpetual School Basketball court, going around for about 2 hours of play and drills like defensive laterals, ply metrics, and “Planting rice”, these hungry stars offer their own souls to intensify conditioning. “Our training takes place three times a week, MWF from 7:00 – 9:00 PM and it’s an alternate court training. Kapag court training puro play kapag field, usually jogging only,” Fontanilla said.

Preparations aren’t easy. Finding and assigning places and positions is of utmost importance. “In the court, we train our skills and team play by having an offense vs. defense style of game. Of course one team focuses on offense while the other focuses on defense, usually ten minutes per quarter,” he stated.

Behind the sweat and blood which these men offer in training, unity or oneness is always important for them to finally raise their fists in victory. “Yung mga strengths and weaknesses ng players makikita lang naman kapag nasa court na. More on adjusting pa lang kasi, syempre sa team, hindi pwede pasikat. Kapag hindi okay sa isa, hindi okay sa lahat. In the team, you got to be one”.

Nursing Football Varsity Intensifies Training

Going against the ground, getting mud on the face, it’s all a part of the Nursing Football club’s training in preparation for claiming their bragging rights in the upcoming games.

“Yung sa routine, magkahiwalay yung babae sa lalaki sa skills training, and kapag maliit lang yung babae, eh, pinagsasama ko na sila ng boys,” says Coach Simeon Dalisay also known as “Coach Sims”, the football club’s head coach. “I see to it that hindi lalampas ng two hours ang training. If ever wala ako, I see to it na may outline akong ibibigay sa team for them to follow, eksaktong 2 hours lang dapat ang training.”

On choosing his artillery, the coach emphasizes endurance more than speed. “Kung puro speed ka lang pero walang endurance, eventually mapapanis ka in no time.”

Training involves knowing the strengths and weaknesses in each player and Dalisay sees to it that they are aware of their own music and broken notes. “Yung mga basics dapat nila malaman before the more advanced techniques. Kung sa evaluation, during the game, yung hindi nila nakikita, nakikita ko. I see to it na lumakas yung endurance nila so I give them additional drills and exercises after practice games,” says Dalisay. “It’s not about the gender or who is more experienced, it’s about the game. When it comes to men and women, the training intensity is the same, kapag training, training talaga.”

Nursing Volleyball Vultures build the powerhouse

Thunderous spikes and vigilant senses make the perfect combination for victory. These two are the main focus as the Nursing Volleyball Club trains to be an elite force designed to bring forth havoc in the battlefield.

Stress and anxiety is building up for the team as the days draw near, squeezing out every second that counts, exploiting every chance to train and fortify each player. “May training nga kami ng 9 – 11 p.m,” says Martin Dacles, a nursing netter.

Dehydrating jogs and nerve-straining exercises are usual routines done by the team before going to the main course. “Nagjo-jogging din sa field, tapos sa drills naman, tossing, passing, and spike,” Dacles said.

Training combines diverse exercises and extreme drills such as the endless ball tossing, lightning fast spikes, stunning offensives and structured defensives; pain and exhaustion is hardly felt with all the intensity building up inside every player’s body ready to explode.

Each player is jam-packed with different specialties for each position to which they are assigned, making them versatile when it comes to offensive and defensive strategies in the game plan.

The countdown has already started; it’s only a matter of time before the real fight begins. In every team, the struggle to survive intense training and conditioning is only a mere fraction of what they are going to face when they come across the different colleges face-to-face. Now the question remains, who will emerge victorious in the end?

Nursing Women’s Volleyball Team: The Higher They Soar, The Harder They Land

By Alfred Benedict Garrido

With the thunderous momentum that the top seeded Nursing Women’s Volleyball team has been riding, the squad seemed en route in clenching the drought for a championship. The dynamic dynamo that launched their pride sky high seemed unstoppable, and the guns that they were reloading on training were always full of bullets. With a commanding win over Arts and Letters last September 7, and having escaped the worst despite a hairline demolition from the College of Fine Arts and Design last September 13, the women’s team found themselves a healthy spot, the quarterfinals. Yet again, it just did not turn out the way the UST Nursing universe expected.

Facing the spur laden bin of second seeded Architecture in the Top 8 extravaganza, the amazons in green and gold maintained composure. Led by senior star Maricris Alkuino, the Nursing squad fired grenades early to dismantle Architecture’s chances and grab a commanding 2-0 card in the best of five set battle. With effective setting prowess from Nursing’s star sophomore setter Melissa Caparros, the unforgiving kills by Alkuino, and the undying attitude displayed by junior Mariel Atanacio, the last 25 landing seemed to go by Nursing’s way.

By the dawn of the third set, the rage of the Architecture squad burst and the calm before the storm took away the dynamos that the Nursing navy has been firing. Architecture’s defense enables them to hold Nursing under their mantle and send away the lines back to Vegas. With the intact power and solid defense that the Beato Angelico based netters contain in their armory, Architecture slowly grappled back to life and took over the game. “Archi (Architecture) relaxed and just played their game. And gradually, their defense became solid. Naging matiyaga sila at ang lakas ng loob nila. We on the other hand, napagod in the end”, says Nursing star Alkuino. The final moments were of the same story. By fourth and fifth sets, the maroon-hued fighters continue to dominate and steal the bragging rights from Nursing. As the match point was declared and the ball landed beneath Nursing’s heels, the 2-0 card which lifted their glory for a sudden dot of time was conquered by the College of Architecture, who won this knock out game by three sets to two.

The stunning upset lifts the College of Architecture to the tournament’s final four and ends the season for the Nursing Volleyball team. But it did not end that bad. This year, the women’s volleyball team, for a moment, became the top contender for a title. Their journey may end up here, but the youth of this team declares a threat on the following years to come.

CHECKING THE CRYSTAL BALL: Signs of Domination or Trace of Submission

By Alfred Benedict Garrido

The Thomasian sports spectacle this year has finally established its roots in the wealthy soil of UST. I’m not referring to the concave aim and possible miss of the UST Tigers at the final four spot in the ongoing UAAP season 73 or the absence of the powerhouse UST Lady Tigers in the second conference of the Shakey’s V-league. On August 20, 2010, the annual Thomasian Goodwill Games opens. The games have been the lair of power for different colleges and the kingdom of sportsmanship. This year, its true face may be masked out by the changes made but it still stands to its purpose, to unleash the power of Thomasian athletes. Being an integral part of the university, our own College of Nursing will throw bombs rather than get left behind. What their chances are and how they would emerge victorious is something that confuses even astrology.

Looking back from no further than last year when the Nursing Women’s Football team reached the finals of the games, the world of the UST nursing stopped by its axis, kneeled down in prayer and hoped for stars to fall on their own booters. A championship is at stake and seeing one’s own team compete for it can be more thrilling than the championship itself. In the end, it was a nice try. Looking back further, this was not the first time the college suffered a disappointing loss. Year after year, not minding few, the final steps towards the top of the mountain were bounded by disappointments.

The venom of such memory poisons the heart of the nursing gladiators who fought with all their might, yet its potion is still the same memory. As the annual spectacle took its toll once more, the athletes of the college are focused on three things, to erase history, rewrite it on glorious papyrus and rule, with perseverance in their bloody armory.

FOOTBALL

After the women’s team grabbed runner-up and the men’s team reaching the quarterfinals of the UST Goodwill games last year, both squads had a lot to declare. Their strikes may blast a million miles per hour, their stamina may last for a decade, their skills may bring them an 8-1 victory, but this team has a lot more. Their arsenal is not just strength, speed or physical power. “(It’s) the determination to win the game. We think that every game is very important and we play it as if it is the last game of the season”, says men’s team captain JV Cotia. Looking down deeper, their core is their heart. This year, behind junior stars Cotia and Nikka Aquino, the nursing football team will once again carry their will- filled armory into battle hoping to surpass and bury the past season with their own gold dusts.

BASKETBALL

Forget about the men’s 1-3 finish and the women’s winless rocky track from last season, where they may be down but definitely not out, and forget that it happened. “Stronger and faster”, that is how head coach Jayvee Ignacio describes his battalion of ballers. Though both squads still have to be tested against opponents, strong words from a highly credible coach may seal the deal. The team’s deck from the last outing may miss the full house and run out of bets early, but that won’t end their chances this year. Behind seniors Andrei Avellanosa and Lena Cruz, a royal flush deal may suit up their season, and this time, anything far below the championship is unacceptable. The day for the basketball team’s anticipated reckoning may arise in the same way coach Ignacio describes the troop, stronger and faster.

VOLLEYBALL

The netters of the college may simply run out of fuel or did lost bullets, but never did they wave the white flag despite the beating they took from last season. The calm before the storm remained calm as both the men and women’s team shattered in a winless campaign. “When we were about to fight, we knew to ourselves that we were armed with more than enough quality skills.” says former nursing hard hitter Joshua dela Paz, “However, we were conquered by our biggest foe which is confidence”. The loss of esteem in their tanks may have cost them the season last year, but this time, with veteran hitters Christian Tolentino, Kier Matias and Maricris Alkuino back in the hungrier line up, the nursing volleyball team seeks to reverse the nightmare from last night. “Our objective is to do our best and win every game”, says Matias, “We will take it step by step.” With the shield of determination and the Excalibur of maturity, the team has taken charge to earn the respect that they rightfully deserve.

JUDO

A single word can define the judo family, intensity. Medals rained the team last year and it is never far from repeating. “I’m looking forward to winning the championship this year”, says bull strong Makairog Cuevas, Jr., who earned bronze in the last outing in his division. It won’t be an easy task though. The team must devour thousands of Ippon-throwing judo jinns who desire for the same thing the team desires, and without Ju no Kata. But as long as stakes are high, the intensity recharged, and with strength coming from last year’s women’s division rookie of the year Bea Evangelista, men’s team captain Jeffrey Limbonhai and ace senior Joshua Nocom, the Nursing judokas may clear up the smokes of war themselves and stand on their both feet.

TABLE TENNIS and SWIMMING

In terms of achievements, the nursing paddlers have a lot to say. The team earned second place the last outing which makes them tough looking and surely strong on both ends. When the tables get set and the nets get screwed down tight like a sword in a huge rock, the team shall do nothing but dominate, but far from conquering. The force of Jonas Versoza and his allies may surface atop and blast ping pong balls to pieces.

The swimming team has a lot to boast from last year. The women earned second place and the men survived the whirlpool at third. With the talent-laden line up headed by Jeremy Tabernero, the dream swim team is near to drown- proof.

Words aren’t enough though. The real deal lies upon the round rubber getting launched, the mat getting pounded and the waters getting splashed away. The ultimate prize hangs in a balance and the air gun blasted. The sporting wars have begun and heroes are out of their lairs. When the earthquake starts and the war unleashed, the shift of control turns to the warriors who shall take the future to their own hands. As of now, a victory or a downfall can not be foretold, true to the deep statement of Abraham Lincoln, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”