Tuesday, July 31, 2007
UC: Banking on great numbers and athletes
By Marian C. Baring
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
NEXT to lawyers topping the bar exams, another source of pride for University of Cebu is its athletic program.
UC has a lot of reasons to be proud about its athletic program. For one, in Cebu, it is the university that has the biggest population of athletes under its program.
As the seventh season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) draws near, UC would also have drawn more than 300 athletes under its wing who are being provided with scholarship, allowances and uniforms.
These athletes are scattered amongst the events in athletics, chess, table tennis, badminton, volleyball, football, taekwondo, karatedo, arnis, weightlifting, baseball, volleyball, basketball and swimming.
UC athletic director Bernard Ricablanca downplays the number by saying that it is only a small percentage from the entire
UC populace.
“It’s small to think that we have more than 40,000 students,” Ricablanca added.
Another thing that UC is mighty proud of is the mantra that they live by, “They are not merely athletes, we call them student-athletes,” Ricablanca said.
Main concern
Because of this, Ricablanca added that while they think of the performances of these athletes, their main concern is their education.
“That is why they are being referred to as student athletes. We consider them students first and foremost before they are athletes,” Ricablanca added.
The scholarships enjoyed by the athletes depend on the endorsement of their respective coaches, who follow two main
criteria—the players’ achievement and the grades.
“There are athletes who get a full scholarship and those who we only shoulder 90 or 80 percent of their tuition,” said Ricablanca.
Ricablanca added they are very strict when it comes to grades. “We help athletes manage their time to balance schoolwork and training,” Ricablanca said.
That is why, another source of UC pride is its student athletes who not only excelled in sports but also in their careers.
Two examples are the former captains of their basketball and football teams, who were top notchers in their respective board exams.
Top-notchers
Kenneth Kernn Sesante, the UC College Men 2006 basketball team skipper was second placer in the Customs Licensure Exams held last year. Chris Ryan Intera, the 2006 football captain also placed second in the Naval/Marine board exams last year.
“It brings us great pride that they lived up to what UC athletics programs stand for—excellence in education and sports and also in knowing that they would have a good future ahead of them,” Ricablanca added.
Ricablanca said that what makes his job easy is UC president Augusto Go’s very approachable manner.
“This goes many years back. He has been known as a champion for the athletes. If our athletes need to be somewhere for competition, he always helps,” said Ricablanca.
Admittedly, UC gives top-most priority to its basketball program. “For our budget, the huge bulk of it goes to the
basketball teams because they need the gears, shoes, allowance and we have to house some of them,” said Ricablanca.
UC, however, is yet to barge into the champion’s podium in the basketball-addict Cesafi.
Outside of the four corners of the basketball court, UC is making waves in the rubberized tracks.
“We have a very strong athletics team. We have 22 tracksters in high school and 25 in college,” said Ricablanca.
UC, has been, for ages, almost uncontested when it comes to the track and field contests, in various multi-event meets.
UC’s table tennis team also scored a grand slam in the national Private Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. UC also has athletes that are already bringing pride to the country.
“It is not hyped up but we have athletes who are already in the national team,” Ricablanca added.
The most famous of them would be Dondon Hontiveros, who is currently at the forefront of the RP basketball team.
Kellie Kaye Rojas, the young lifter is a member of the RP weightlifting team training pool. Julius Nierras, UC track star, is currently with the national team as well as karatekas Erlando Metante, Jazzil Segguira and Kim Legarto.
“A lot of our athletes have also excelled in competitions abroad. They may not be with the RP team but nevertheless, they still bring pride to the country,” Ricablanca added. (MCB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 31, 2007 issue)
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