Toby Gadi: Moro Lorenzo Sportsman of the Year
By Roman C. Mirasol
THE BIGGEST name in the sport of boxing is none other than that of the legendary Muhammad Ali. Dubbed “The Greatest” during his prime, Ali’s excellence inside the ring, however, was due in large part to his reliance on character rather than skill. People say there will never be another Muhammad Ali. Duplicating his path to greatness is a tall order, perchance even impossible.
That clearly hasn’t hindered Toby Gadi from blazing his own trail to greatness.
Gadi spearheaded Ateneo’s climb to the summit of this year’s UAAP Badminton Championships. The former Rookie of the Year also secured his first Most Valuable Player award in Season 74, a well-deserved mark of his dominance at the collegiate level.
The Blue Shuttlers captain did not stop there. He has taken his skills to the national level, where he is currently ranked first in the Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) Open Men’s Singles division. Additionally, he was summoned to represent the nation in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia last November.
Gadi’s year has truly been one for the books. Just when things couldn’t get any better, he was crowned the Moro Lorenzo Sportsman of the Year during the Loyola Schools Awards for Leadership and Service for School Year 2011-2012.
Although his UAAP career is a well-decorated one, Gadi believes this award in particular is extra special. “It’s a huge thing for me to receive this award. Ever since I was in high school, I’ve dreamed of receiving this award,” he confesses.
It was a complete surprise to the third year veteran, who personally didn’t expect to win it this year. One reason for this was the competition: the other two finalists, after all, were Nico Salva and Matt Laurel, titans of men’s basketball and baseball respectively.
Despite dominating men’s badminton in recent years, Gadi remains humble, saying both his co-finalists were very deserving. This show of humility alone speaks volumes of Gadi’s character.
Aside from his unassuming and humble nature, Gadi has a work ethic like no other. Assistant coach Alma Ledesma points out that he is the only person she knows who remains passionate and driven to perfect his craft, even after consistent victories. “During training you can see him analyze each rally. He determines the mistakes he made and corrects his stroke right there and then,” she says.
Without a doubt Gadi has a one-of-a-kind set of talent and skill. What makes him a true standout, however, is his ability to remain grounded regardless of success. It is this quality of an ideal Ateneo athlete that prompted head coach Kennie Asuncion to nominate him for the award.
In spite of being unexpected, the award was a perfect and fitting end to what has been a brilliant year for Gadi—a year that has seen him display his greatness both on and off the court.
Photo by Joseph S. Angan
Celina Gonzalez: Moro Lorenzo Sportswoman of the Year
By Dean V. Roxas
FEAR STRIKES into the hearts of the competition once the lane announcer introduces this particular tanker. They know they’ll be in for a tough time against the “juggernaut.”
Celina Gonzalez is one of the most highly-decorated amateur swimmers in the country. Prior to the UAAP, Gonzalez seized nine gold medals in the Speedo Senior National Swimming Championships. She also competed in the recent Southeast Asian Games in her age group and brought home a bronze medal.
Indeed, Gonzalez has become a household name in the swimming scene, and at only 18 years old at that. She has already shown the makings of a phenom but she has yet to reach her prime, making her potential deadly in the eyes of her competitors.
All these accolades contribute to her rise as the tournament favorite. Gonzalez, however, does not dwell on her laurels and still trains with an underdog’s heart. According to head coach Archie Lim, “She works hard every time. [She] feels guilty when she misses training and goes into competitions filled with confidence, knowing she worked harder than her competitor.”
Combining her wealth of experience and an unwavering hunger for victory, it was clear that Gonzalez had the perfect recipe for something very special. The fruits of her labor came in the form of an MVP-worthy performance during UAAP Season 74. The Life Sciences major won five gold medals, one silver and one bronze to cap off a stellar 2011 swimming campaign. She carried the team on her back and brought them to a hard-fought second place finish.
All her success notwithstanding, Gonzalez remains grounded and grateful for those who have helped her every step of the way. “I want to thank my coach, teammates and parents for believing in me and supporting me throughout the year. Most especially, I’d like to thank God for blessing me with my talent and for His love and guidance,” she says.
Her team captain Maysheen Tiu shares, “She deserves to win. I’m glad the Moro Lorenzo awardee for the women’s division came from the swimming team for two years in a row.”
An aspiring med student, Gonzalez must meet certain requirements to be eligible for postgraduate studies. Despite her jam-packed training schedule, she still prioritizes her academics whenever she’s not in the pool. She shares, “I do my school requirements whenever I have free time during breaks, after school, after training or during weekends.”
The rigors demanded by Gonzalez’s course alone are remarkable enough, but the ability to remain as one of the premier amateur swimmers in the country is a testament to her sheer determination and tenacity. Truly, Celina Gonzalez is the embodiment of mens sana in corpore sano—sound mind in a sound body.
