Superb, one word to describe UAAP Season 75

WE can hardly express such gesture of appreciation without the athletes themselves making the sacrifices all season long in the current 75th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

What actually makes the UAAP a premier sports event in the country is the preparation of athletes in the early stages of their instruction and experience from a satellite field of training starting from the simple school-based unit meets to the bigger city and regional selections on the way to the nationwide Batang Pinoy, the Palarong Pambansa or the exclusive Prisaa, to name a few.

Another thing that makes the UAAP a gleaming talent showcase of national athletes is the effective, well financed training programs and talent scouting.

The ball games particularly women's volleyball take the centerstage with the lady spikers getting equal attention of national importance as basketball for men in terms of live television coverages.

In volleyball for women there is grace under pressure. Everything in the field just looks beautiful despite clear and present athleticism.
We have tried cross-training our girls in volleyball and see how mix martial arts looks with them on board and practice ground fighting. The purpose is to teach them how to protect themselves in such training methods that also teaches forward and backward body rolls which action is prevalent in volleyball digging and diving.

It really pains us to see young people injured during the games due to lack of preparations. After only a few days session at the karate and judo hall of the Holiday Gym and Spa, our conclusion is that volleyball players in the distaff side really exudes that marvelous feelings of grace in athletics that was once perceived to be a man’s world even if you put them into practicing ground fighting.

Maybe the blend is just right in the sense that the inexpensive experimental program was inspired by Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, whose recent pronouncement gives sports a shot in the arm. His impending return to city hall a few months from now is expected to give sports a more intensified program depending on the response of the major stakeholders in the sector that attracts mostly the bigger and more active young population.

The husband and wife team of Janet and Paolo Tancontian is another graceful blend despite his macho performance of having the most number of national championships as a young judo artist. Tancontian has all the potentials of an Olympic gold medalist. Previous national sports programs just don’t fit. Tancontian's willingness to teach volleyball girls judo falling and other mix martial arts techniques will make our players more confident and resistant to injuries.

Sports is generally perceived to be a man's world?

Not with Victonara Galang, Abigail Mara¤o and Michelle Gumabao around.
Add to that, Allysa Valdez, Angeline Gervacio and Gretchen Ho, Paulina Soriano, Luisa Mae Zapanta and Shiela Marie Pineda are definitely in the list of top UAAP crowd drawers in women’s volleyball.

National University's Myla Pablo and Denise Santiago has backed down against the more experienced team of coach Ramil de Jesus in the semifinals. Likewise with Pau Soriano’s Adamson U against AdMU. The stage is now set for another classic Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle duel in the finals.

UAAP Beat: Kayang-kaya namin sila. - Lady spiker Mika Reyes