UST snares 11th men's taekwondo crown

MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas overcame a stiff challenge from the University of the Philippines, 5-2, to bag a record 11th men's taekwondo diadem in the 75th UAAP season late Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan City.

From a 2-2 stalemate, last season's MVP Dane Pio de Roda, Marae Anthony Deo and Christian dela Cruz gave the necessary victories for the Growling Tigers.

The Maroons took silver even as they entered the championship round with a five-game winning streak and needed only to win over the Tigers to get that breakthrough crown. In third place is La Salle, which also sported a 5-1 slate but lost to UP and UST due to inferior quotient.

"The hard work of the boys paid off," said UST coach Dindo Simpao.

Dela Cruz went home with the men's division MVP plum, while La Salle's Benjamin Keith Sembrano was named the Rookie of the Year.

In the distaff side, Lady Archers standout Jyra Lizardo clinched the season MVP honors while teammate Patricia Gonzalez bagged the top rookie award. La Salle won the title on Tuesday, ending a 14-year drought via six-game elimination sweep.

The Tigresses meanwhile improved from its disappointing fourth place last season to second after defeating Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 6-1. FEU, last year’s champion, finished third with a 5-2 card.

In the juniors division, the UST Tiger Cubs ruled the fourth consecutive season after winning all of their four matches.

Ateneo player's father appeals ban from patron seats

In other developments, the father of Ateneo de Manila forward Nico Salva has asked the UAAP board to reconsider its decision to ban him from seating in the patron section of men's basketball venues after a verbal tussle with an FEU assistant coach last week.

Amando Salva, an executive of a pharmaceutical company, said he suffered an "acute embarrassment" because of the sanction that was imposed without hearing his side.

"You have maligned my character by portraying me as someone with no self-control, damaged my name and reputation in my field of work, with business associates, friends and relatives," he said in a letter to UAAP president Nilo Ocampo on Tuesday.

Recounting his version of the altercation that took place on September 13, Salva said while his son and other teammates were warming up for their game against National University, FEU's Ronald Magtulis suddenly shouted at Nico and challenged him to a fistfight.

That didn't materialize, however, since FEU players were already stopping Magtulis from further challenging Nico to a fistfight. After being informed of the incident, Salva talked to FEU coach Bert Flores, who later promised to raise the matter to Magtulis.

"As I was heading back to my seat, I saw Magtulis heading in my direction so I talked to him saying, 'Pare, ano ba problema mo kay Nico? Bakit mo siya hinahamon ng suntukan? Ang tanda-tanda mo na eh papatulan mo pa ang bata,' and Magtulis responded, 'Ikaw ang matanda! Gusto mo tayo na lang eh. Halika sa labas' at the same time gesturing me to come out of PhilSports (Arena) for a fight," he said.

As both men traded insults, a certain Jojo dela Rama allegedly intervened and told Magtulis to just leave. The shouting match, according to Salva, was witnessed by a certain Debbie Tan, a venue bouncer in yellow shirt and a few others.

Salva didn't regret his confrontation with Magtulis, who was slapped with a one-game suspension, because he believes that any "normal parent would react the same way."

"Given all the facts herein, I strongly oppose your decision, and I trust that the UAAP Board rectifies its error in judgment in order to clear my name, and allow me to watch my son play his last few games in his final year from the patron section where I have watched and supported him all throughout his collegiate career," Salva, who once played for UP, said.

The 22-year-old Nico and the rest of the Blue Eagles are gunning for a fifth straight UAAP cage title this year. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)