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.”
No comments:
Post a Comment