Friday, July 27, 2007 SWU Cobras: Roaring back to the fold
THE Southwestern University (SWU) was a former powerhouse in different sporting event and was even the basketball champion in the last year of the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association. CAAA folded up, and so did SWU’s athletic program.
After years of hiatus, a new and dynamic athletic director, Ryan Aznar, came into the picture, and so started SWU’s odyssey back into the mainstream.
Everything is new for SWU—the athletic director, the teams, the facilities and the privileges.
“This is the very first year that we went back to aggressively pushing for our sports program. We just revived our sports program so there really is not much pressure on our athletes to perform brilliantly,” Aznar said.
“All our teams are expectedly weak. I’m not expecting any of my teams to perform a miracle in the Cesafi. To put it, this will be the Cobra teams’ baptism of fire,” said Aznar.
Reputation
Despite being out cold for years, SWU has maintained a steady reputation in volleyball and beach volleyball.
That is why Aznar, who has pushed for the renovation of some of SWU’s sporting facilities, decided to invest on his biggest project so far, which is the putting up of sand court—the only one in Cebu City.
“We have fared well in beach volleyball not only in the local scene but nationally. That is why we will be building up this sport,” Aznar added. His project will address the perennial problem of a practice venue for the beach volleyball athletes.
Aside from better facilities, Aznar also pushed for better compensations for the athletes like dormitories, allowances and health insurance.
Teams
Presently, SWU has formed teams in basketball, which is headed by coach Dodie Miego; women’s volleyball under coach Janeth Ponte; track and field under coach Honorato Corpin; men and women’s badminton under coach Karl Soronda; and taekwondo under coach Raul Luna.
“This year’s performance will be our barometer that would help us decide what our priority sports will be next year,” Aznar added.
“In basketball, we are not complete because most of the players are rookies and in volleyball most of the players are just in the second year, ” said Aznar.
“So my forecast will be that this will be the year that we will start to gain experience. I’m not putting any pressure on the players because they are still very young. But three years from now, I expect them to deliver,” said Aznar.
The Cobras basketball team, meanwhile, only has five veterans left when the team joined the Partner’s Cup basketball league and the VAAA tournament.
They are Enrique Sanoria, Chris Litorja, Richard Gianchand, Mariano Canonigo and Richie Jalandoni.
The rookies include Ardd Django, Emelan Velayo, Joseph Escober, Elvid Polegrates, Eleazar Armecin, Mebalgas Vaflor, Siegfred Tilap, Jesus Ceniza and Rene Pacquiao.
SWU, however, has on its reserve list former USP Panther 6-foot-4 Clifford Maguate and another 6-foot-5 player.
In athletics, Aznar said they will be joining the Cesafi contest but not in all disciplines as they just have nine players in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
“Hopefully by next year, we will have formed teams in swimming, chess, men’s volleyball and football. But for this year, like I said, it will be just a baptism of fire for my players,” said Aznar. (JSV/MCB)
