Thursday, December 13, 2007 UC, City to honor Cebuano gold medalist By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AS testament to its strong athletic program, the University of Cebu finally produced its first Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist in Julius Nierras, who was groomed at the university during his college days.
Years of building up a core group of athletes finally paid off upon seeing a former varsity rise to stardom. Nierras capped his career with a gold medal finish in the men’s 400 meter final of the SEA Games the other day in Thailand.
Apart from Nierras, another former UC athlete who also figured well in the SEA Games is weightlifter Renante Briones, who collected a silver medal. Briones is now playing for the Philippine Army.
For bringing glory not only to Cebu and to UC but also the country, UC will be giving special recognition to the two.
UC vice-chancellor Atty. Baldomero Estenzo said even if it had been a long time since these athletes left the shelters of UC to seek greener pastures, they will be giving them cash incentives for a job well done.
“We give incentives for winners in the local arena, how much more if it is the SEA Games,” said Estenzo.
UC has been known to reward their students if they become successful in their chosen fields, like giving cars to government examinations topnotchers and incentives to those who excel in sporting competitions. Estenzo, however, said that cars are only given to students with academic achievements.
Meanwhile, Nierras’ former coach and the one who discovered him, Priciliano Capangpangan, said he never doubted Nierras will reach this far in his career.
“Right from the moment I discovered him during the intramurals, I knew that he had the potential,” said Capampangan.
Passion and dedication
Capampangan added that he knew Nierras to have so much passion, dedication and discipline in his craft and that these were the reasons he succeeded in the SEA Games.
“I remembered that because of his talent, we sent him to the very first Arafura Games when he was in second year high school and he went home with a silver medal in the long jump competition,” said Capampangan.
Nierras trained for the 100m run and long jump. When he moved to the national team, he trained for the long sprints. Nierras had been with the RP team for three years now.
Right after graduation, Nierras did not join the national squad right away but signed up for the Air Force to continue training before finally making it to the national team roster.
UC athletic director Bernard Ricablanca said he will pass a resolution to the Private Schools Athletic Aassociation (Prisaa) that Nierras be recognized in the next national Prisaa, a sporting meet which Nierras used to compete in while with UC.
“We are very proud of Julius. He was with UC for four years where he was a model student and a model athlete,” Ricablanca said.
Apart from the Prisaa resolution, Ricablanca plans to write a letter to Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem of the City Council’s Committee on Professional Sports for the city to give recognition to the Seag winners.
But Jakosalem beat him to it.
“We will definitely recognize them on the charter awards day together with Gerry Peñalosa, AJ Banal and the Cebu football team which won in the Philippine Olympic Festival,” Jakosalem said.
