Baseball and Softball
By Margarita A. Contreras and Dustin D. Fidellaga
FALLING SHORT of the championship title in a heartbreaking one-run loss against National University last season, a resilient Ateneo Blue Batters have set the bar high for themselves this coming Season 75.
The Batters’ pre-season consisted of months of regular conditioning and fielding, including a week-long rigorous training camp in Taichung, Taiwan late October. Boasting a versatile, 18-deep bench with eight equally talented and experienced rookies, the Batters are ready to claim what is rightfully theirs.
On the other hand, the Lady Batters come into Season 75 with a new head coach and six rookies after finishing fifth last year. The challenge for Coach Ronnie Alvaran is to find a winning dynamic for the young Lady Batters.
Co-captains Antoinette and Cheska Altomonte are expected to lead a team full of rookies, alongside replacement pitcher Mei Uy. Meanwhile, the departure of key pitcher Ina Yulo and left fielder Frannie Santos are opportunities for the young ones to shine. Veterans Bada la O’ and Sarah Uy are also expected to step up this season.
Track and Field
By Noelle M. Recio
WITH THE UAAP advancing the Track and Field competition from February to December, the Blue and Lady Tracksters are eager to prove themselves as contenders this year.
The Blue Tracksters will have the leadership of Team Captain Jeremy Esguerra and standout Miguel Sibayan to bank on despite losing five key players, including two-time gold medalist Carlos Soriano, to graduation.
The team has also bolstered its lineup with the addition of eight new rookies, including pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, who is considered to be one of the country’s finest in the said event.
On the other hand, double varsity and recent addition Princess Trinidad and Team Captain Poly Villar will be leading the way for the Lady Tracksters, who are looking to bag several medals of their own.
Expect Coach Misael Perez’s troops to exceed expectations this Season 75 and to send a powerful message to the rest of the league: that Ateneo is more than capable of breeding champion track and field athletes.
Fencing
By Raizza P. Bello
FIRED UP to redeem their fifth place performance last year, the Blue and Lady Fencers have sharpened skills for the upcoming UAAP Fencing Tournament this December.
Joining the lineup are freshmen Mary Rose Hernandez, who recently competed internationally, and Andie Ignacio, a former member of the National Team. Mighty Ignacio, a current National Team member, also raises the Fencers’ hopes to place in the tournament.
The fencing team fell to fifth place last year with majority of its representative athletes competing as rookies. However, Lady Fencers Team Captain Glenda Yano sees Season 74 as a training ground for this season’s battle.
She said, “I really think we have a chance. The newbies in our team are experienced veterans of the sport and they greatly standout. We have been prepared by the lows and our mistakes of the past.”
“We need to remove the nervousness during the fights because that’s where we falter,” she explained. “That’s why now, we are focused on the personality development of each one.”
Photo by Tim Arafiles
Chess
By Mikaela J. Sumulong
COMING INTO Season 75 with a number of draftees and young players, this year appears to be a challenge for the Ateneo Woodpushers.
Losing aces Gabby Layugan, ex-captain EJ Plan, and Fide Master Alcon Datu in the lineup, the season looks tough for the men’s team.
Nevertheless, the return of veteran and current captain Hanz Cheng and the entrance of Jem Garcia, with an impressive title of International Master (IM), will surely unleash the potential of the team.
“He is the best in the team. Even our coach is having a hard time against him. [He’s] one of the youngest in the Philippines ever to receive the IM title,” said sophomore Lance Sese about Garcia.
The lineup of the Lady Woodpushers, on the other hand, also suffered when former captain Nikki Capinpin graduated. To fill the void, De La Salle University transferee Dominique Layugan has arrived to complete this season’s lineup with the returning members of the women’s team.
Football
By Angelo F. Herbosa and Mikaela J. Sumulong
THE BLUE Booters seek to climb the standings this Season 75. This year, the Blue Booters have a balanced roster both in terms of offense and defense. The team gained promising recruits in the likes of Nick O’ Donnell, Carlo Liay, Emilio Pelaez, Eric Figueroa, Valentino Calvo and Toffee Sumulong.
The Blue Booters also retain their core and have leadership in Yu Murayama, Miguel Tuazon, Emman Paredes, Cocoy Marcelino, Mikko Mabanag and Jico Noel. Other UAAP schools will soon learn firsthand that the Blue Booters are a team not to be taken lightly.
Meanwhile, the Lady Booters have proven themselves to be infamous contenders. Under the guidance of Bob Manlulo, their head coach, the team brought glory to Ateneo with a first runner-up finish in the 17th Unigames last October 21 to 28 in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.
Aside from their veteran lineup, recruitment has brought in quality players. For example, the team now has notable rookie Camille Rodriguez, player and finisher for the Philippine Women’s National Football Team, on board.
Manlulo is confident that the Lady Booters will finish better this year.
Tennis
By Robi R. Andres and Wayne O. Tan
SEASON 74 was a transition period for the Blue Netters as they fielded four rookies in a roster of seven players and finished last.
Optimism runs high for the coming season as Team Captain Julius Lagman returns after missing out on the previous one due to academic reasons. The graduation of doubles specialist Jolo Opulencia, meanwhile, opens doors for rookies like Joaquin Paras, Tak Reyes and Jeffrey Uy.
Rollyto Litang, the Netters’ new head coach, will look to steer the team to a successful campaign. “We’re underdogs,” said team veteran Gerard San Juan. “We can take those teams whove underestimated us.”
The Lady Netters are gearing up for an improved performance after last years disappointing finish. Team Captains Niquie Angelo and Mary Rivero will be leading the squad to what will hopefully be a repeat of their finals appearance in Season 73. “We won’t give up hope,” said Angelo. Proof of their resilience were two clean sweep victories in the Unigames last October.
With the core team intact and fresh faces for the new season, the Lady Netters will go for gold.
Photo by Joseph S. Angan
Volleyball
By Roman C. Mirasol and Chino C. Razon
THE BLUE Spikers took a step back in Season 74, placing seventh—a spot lower compared to the previous season—and finishing with a 2-12 record.
Despite last year’s performance, the team showed promising signs for the upcoming season in the 17th Unigames. The boys notched victories over John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Xavier University, Saint Louis University and the University of Mindanao before bowing out of the tournament on the fifth day.
Team Captain Tomie Rivera will be spearheading this year’s campaign with a veteran crew that will also feature key addition, rookie Rex Intal.
Meanwhile, the Lady Spikers finished the elimination round of Season 74’s UAAP Volleyball tournament with a solid 11-3 record to secure the second seed.
As they breezed through the semifinals against the third-seeded University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, the Spikers served up some noise as they provided the only loss of the eventual champions that season, powerhouse De La Salle University Lady Archers.
Securing that spot in the finals showed that, despite the odds against them, any opponent would not intimidate this team. The crowd should expect the same intensity from these ladies as the core of seniors from last season will lead the way in Season 75.
