Bonding time

There comes a day when me and my sisters would just go to SM City North Edsa and indulge with our vainness. They have brought me to the NAIL Spa , Forever Flawless and had lunch at the NAPOLI Restaurant. Just check the pictures.

OUR FAVORITE DISH

AT NAPOLI

FEET PAMPERING

AT THE NAIL SPA

WAITING FOR OUR TIME

AT FOREVER FLAWLESS

THAT'S ME IN ACTION

GETTING HANDSOMER

BY THE MINUTE

STI College Olympians Volleyball Team Building

The STI College Olympians Volleyball teams have many good individual players but is still lacking on the chemistry side. The composition of the Men's Team should be able to spring a few surprises while the Women's team have their own concerns to worry about. In an effort to be able to build chemistry one has to be familiar with each other and eventually trust each other in the process. In comes the team building sessions to be able to develop and infuse the aforementioned components.

The STI College Olympians Volleyball Men's and Women's travelled to Los Baños Laguna for their first Team Building session. The goal was to be able to bond with each other and more importantly eliminate the small groups and clicks and become ONE TEAM. Admittedly the two teams are still far from that but as they say this can be the starting point.

For starters the Men's team who has lots of HRM students took care of the grilling of the food while the girls took care of the preparation of the tables, utensils and plates and other stuff. Coach Philip Salaysay facilitated the exact division of rice, liempo and other stuff to be able to have a nice boodle fight. After dinner we had some games that pitted the guys and the gals. It was nothing much but it helped the two teams know other details of their team mates.

The evening ended with some R & R with singing and enjoying each others company. We just hope that the bonds that were made in this Team Building will help each and everyone develop a good sense of chemistry that is needed to be able to create a fighting team. Go Olympians.

Heat beat Lakers

The much anticipated Christmas day showdown between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers turned into a one sided affair as LeBron James took charge. Lebron scored 27 points 11 rebounds and 10 assists and 4 steals while Chris Bosh added 24 points and 13 rebounds and Dwayne Wade chipped in 18 points 5 rebounds and 6 assists. These number gave the Heat a 96 - 80 win at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol each scored 17 points while Lamar Odom had 14 points but it was not enough to stem the tide against the new power threesome.

THE STAT: 40: The number of years that have elapsed since a player posted a triple-double on Christmas Day. Only three players have accomplished the feat along with James: Billy Cunningham, John Havlicek,and Oscar Robertson.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS

HOPE YOU HAVE A

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Blast from the past: Soul Cake

Soul Cake by STING

We always have different tales to tell during Christmas and usually the ones that are very dear to us are the ones that involved lots of people, merry making, and at times good deeds. Back in 1987 I was a College freshman in the Ateneo and was into many groups, but the group that I enjoyed being with are my Days with the Lord brothers who invited me to join a Choir organized by the one and only Basil Valdez. Basil was already past his prime then but he was still a top celebrity and respected one at that. Owing to the fact that he also joined the Days with the Lord back in his time he made this group to help finance a scholarship program he set up. He had 26 scholars then as I remember. I honestly cannot remember all the members of the 1987 group but let me try to list some names. Sam Baharias, Ed Valmorida, Glenn Bernardo, Bogey Cabrera, John Gwynn, Gerry Sison, Teody Alcantara, Mon Santana, Cesar Santana, Arnie Bohol, Glenn Pantig, Jed Pantig, Neil Bernardo, and most importantly our choir master who taught us Ed Nepomuceno. The group sang for prominent families namely Jose Mari Chan, the late Helen Vela and the megastar Sharon Cuneta. We raised around 117k total for the project.

Hey Ho Nobody Home

As I reflect and miss those great times I chanced upon this video by Sting from one of the songs taught to us. It is only now that I know that one of the songs we sang then was an Irish song. My only regret is not having pictures of the many happy moments we shared during that Christmas, most probably one of the happiest I have ever had.

Olympians lose twice

Storm slips but stays gets up

The STI College Olympians Team A had two key players missing in their line-up, Center Elmer Labis who has pneumonia and Swingman Abby Chavez who left early for the Christmas season. Left with nine players to rotate, that did not bother the Olympians as they battled tooth and nail but lost steam in the end game losing to Emilio Aguinaldo College in overtime 78 - 80. The Olympians battled back to several deficits with the most at 10 as they shut down the Generals with their vaunted pressure defense and even had a chance to win until forward Jasper Melano missed a game winner in regulation.

A Kobe play alike move

The Olympians were led by the heads up play of their two big men Cedric Ablaza and Ivan Moreno. The two conspired for most of the inside points of the Olympians and shared time to thwart all efforts of the Generals to score inside. After the half the Olympians were on top by three 35 – 32. Unfortunately the Generals found the chink in the Olympians armor as they pummeled the STI big men with their stifling defense and converted at will on offense. After the third quarter the Generals were in control of the game.

Ablaza scored heavily

STI forward Cedric Ablaza was on a roll scoring inside the paint but was later sent to the bench for good as he was whistled for his fifth foul in regulation with still a lot of time on the clock. The Olympians then went to veteran playmaker Oscar Crisostomo, point guard Storm Riva, forward Jasper Melano and Moreno to defend their turf and eventually take the lead 65 – 64 with a minute left in the game.

Jasper Melano was adequate in defense
but relentless on offense

In overtime, Melano missed two free throws with 20 seconds left and the Generals ahead by five. Eric Sanchez drained a three pointer to put the Olympians within two 78 – 80 with six seconds left but that proved to be the final stand of the Olympians. With two vital cogs of the team not playing and the leading scorer fouled out, the Olympians showed that a loss like this can also be a victory in terms of what they have discovered and accomplished.

The Mac Attack scores

In the other game of the Olympians, the efforts of Jerald Bautista and Rama Krisna Morales were not enough to give the Olympians headway as the National University Bulldogs beat the Olympians 76-52. The team was complete and the veterans were raring to go.

Former Olympians Emmanuel Mbe plays against STI

Former Olympian Emmanuel Mbe suited up for the Bulldogs and made his imposing presence in the paint matter as the 6-7 behemoth grabbed rebounds, scored points through put backs and was an imposing defender. The Olympians led early 11 -7 but Mbe asserted his might and the rest of the Bulldogs followed suit. By the fourth quarter the Olympians were outran and were out hustled by the game Bulldogs. In the end the Olympians garnered valuable experience from the game.

This is quite exciting. The veterans showed that they can compete while the second team also showed that they have what it takes to relieve the veterans and sustain the run of the main men. Both teams take a breather for the Christmas vacation and FMC 3 resumes on January 8, 2011.

RK's heady plays were not enough

STI College Billiards Team Rule NAASCU

Bea Dado & Diane Tapang show their medals

This time around it was the girls who avenged the boys from their fall from grace. Beatrix Dado a 19 year old third year BS Information Technology student from STI College Quezon Avenue led the STI College Olympians Billiards team as she thwarted all who opposed to win the Gold medal in the 9 Ball category. She then teamed up with Diane Tapang, an 18 year old 2^nd year BS HRM student from STI College Caloocan, to win the Gold in the 8 – ball doubles category. Diane eventually settled for the silver in the 10-Ball category.

The STI College Olympians Billiards Team

The STI College Billiards team is just one of the five new sports that STI College has just started in time for the 10^th NAASCU second semester competition. The tryouts started last November with a lot of students joining and eventually the winners from that tryouts came out to represent the network. The NAASCU is the only league that has Billiards as one of its sports. It is the only league that allows this and because of this a national students billiards league was formed and was named the Billiards League.

A focused Bea Dado sinks the 9 Ball

Leading the men in the competition is Alexander Aquino a 1^st year HRS student from STI College Caloocan who was the top gun after the tryouts. Coming in second is Ryan Torres a 20 year old 2^nd year DCET student from STI College Quezon Ave. Aquino placed 5^th in the 10-Ball competition while Torres was also 5^th in the 9Ball competition. Rounding out the team is the duo from STI College Global City, Basketball Hotshot Norman Ihalas and Joebert Campos a 21 year old BSIT student. Ihalas and Campos placed 6^th in the 8 ball doubles competition.

Alex Aquino of STI College Caloocan

This is the 3^rd year that the NAASCU has a billiards tournament and this is the first time STI joined the league. In the Men’s Division AMACU won the 8 Ball and 9 Ball title while Billiards League leader St. Clare College won the 9 ball tourney. The other teams that participated were Our Lady of Fatima, Centro Escolar University, University of Makati, University of Manila and Informatics. Congratulations to the STI College Olympians Billiards team for bringing honor to STI.

Diane Tapang teams with Dado for the 8-Ball Gold

STI Athletics Team rise to the occasion

Pressed for time, the STI College Olympians Athletics team still showed that they can compete even though the preparation time was not that long and that most of the team members were first timers. The team had their first tryouts last November 11 at the Amoranto stadium and after one month of training and sacrifices the Men's team placed second while the Women placed fourth and the team placed third over-all behind powerhouse University of Makati and St. Clare College.

The STI College Athletics team is coached by STI College Olympians Volleyball team Head Coach Philip Salaysay who himself was once a Track and Field Athlete for FEU and Perpetual Help College. He is assisted by the Physical Education Teacher of STI College Fairview Casiano Pasia who is also an Athletics Varsity player from the University of the East. Coach Pasia is also handling the Table tennis team. The two coaches helped hone the kids to victory with little preparations.

Gonzalo Paulo Jr. of STI College Fairview bagged the silver in the 800 meters and another Silver in the 400 by 4 relay. That proved to be gave big points to the STI Men's team as they trailed only University of Makati in those events. Paulo is also a member of the STI College Men's Volleyball team who is set to do battle next month.

Leading the STI College Women's Athletics team is Joan Berino of STI College Fairview. Berino is very new to the sport for she is also one of the members of the STI College Olympians Women's Volleyball team. She was instrumental in getting two medals namely the silver in the Women's 200 meter run and the Bronze in the 100 meter run. The other members of the Women's team were Ana Mabanglo & Sha Torres of STI College Fairview, Eliza Nuevo & Rachelle Cruz of STI College Global City, Jen Brillantes and Suzanne Prado of STI College Novaliches ,Ricaflor Marcha of STI College Caloocan and Mikee Sayson of STI College Taft.

Anchoring the Men's sprints is Mark Mollenido of STI College Fairview. Mark got a silver medal in the 400 meters by four relay and a bronze in the 100 meters. One thing going for Mark is that he is only 17 years old and is actually one of the rookies on the team. With another year of training expect Mark to leave his mark in the NAASCU record books next year. The other members of the Men's team are John Javinal, Isiah Damian, Jun Ponce, Gonzalo Paulo and Kevin Sales of STI College Fairview, Billy Bolivar of STI College Novaliches, Romer Clutario, Dan Marasigan and Willan Turingan of STI College Global City.

The Iron Man of the team is Romer Clutario of STI College Global City. He was first on the field to run the 10,000 meters with which he won the silver medal. In the afternoon he helped the team finish second in the four by 400 meter relay. He was supposed to run for another 5,000 meters which was unfortunately cancelled.

Willan Turingan of STI College Global City was the surprise package as he brought his fast moves from the hard court to the track oval. Turingan got the silver medal in the 200 meter run and another silver in the four by 400 meters run. His fast moves enabled the Men's team to get the needed points to make it to second place. Joan Berino on the other was entered in four events namely the 100 meters & 200 meters run, the 4 by 100 meter and 4 x 400 meter relay.

For the STI College Olympians Athletics Team, A JOB WELL DONE! Congratulations!

Blue Eagles win 3rd PCCL Title

Its his time, Nico Salva, PCCL MVP

Quick trivia. Who is this Blue Eagle who scored 26 points last year in Game 2 of the PCCL against FEU to give the Eagles another day to live and then scored 24 points in the 2010 PCCL to give the Blue Eagles its 3^rd PCCL Title. The answer, no other than 3^rd year forward Nico Salva. Salva was voted as the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Most Valuable Player as he willed the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a 73 – 67 game 3 win against the Adamson Soaring Falcons to give the Katipunan based Blue Eagles their third PCCL Title, the most by any school. Kirk Long led the Eagles with 25 points while graduating guard Eric Salamat who scored 24 game 2 points added 7 points in his last game as a Blue Eagle. Congratulations to the Blue Eagles for another title, see you again next year!

5 years, 3 UAAP Titles, 3 PCCL Titles

What more can Eric Salamat ask for

The scores:

Ateneo 73

Long 25, Salva 24, Golla 7, Salamat 7, Austria 5, Monfort 3, Escueta 2, Chua 0, Erram 0, Gonzaga 0, Tiongson 0, dela Cruz 0.

Adamson 67

Camson 15, Colina 13, Alvarez 12, Nuyles 11, Manyara 6, Cañada 4, Lozada 3, Brondial 2, Stinnett 1, Etrone 0, Galinato 0, Cabrera 0.

Quarter scoring: 14-13, 27-33, 55-44, 73-67.

Eagle Frank Golla has been a solid contributor

Return of the King: Lebron plays in Cleveland

It was something expected from most of the fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers as the prodigal son returned to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland Ohio for the first time since his decision to leave the team he played for the last seven years. LeBron James known as King James and one of the leading endorsers of Nike came back and was greeted with boos and every innovative way that the fans can do to show their hatred to their former ruler. In return, Lebron came up with his best performance of the season by dropping 38 points, pulled down 5 rebounds and issued 8 assists in three quarters in a rout against the Cavaliers 118 - 90. As good as they are the Heat are only 12 -8. But then again its only December and lets wait how this story will end.

STI Cheer Dance Performance

This video is dedicated to the

hardworking men and women

of the STI College Pep Squad.

Guys and girls this one is for you!