Olympians new NAASCU Track Stars!

Dan Marasigan's golden run

Dan Marasigan hesitated and faltered as the rest of the runners raced towards the finish line and finish well ahead of him in the Men’s 100 meter dash of the 10th NAASCU Track and Field Competition. Rookie jitters got the better of Dan which was the perfect motivation for him to train and hopefully do better after his woeful finish in that race. Back with a vengeance, the now sophomore and highly motivated Dan Marasigan from STI College Fairview used his experience to bag the gold in the 100 meter dash to anchor the STI College Olympians Men’s Track and Field team to the top of the 11th NAASCU Track and Field Competition at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum track stadium.

Mark Mollenido crosses the finish line well ahead of the pack

Marasigan added another silver medal in the 200 meters and together with his colleagues from STI College Fairview he teamed up with Mark Mollenido, Aljon Fostanes and John Jabinal to bag the 4 x 100 meter relay Gold. Inspired by that win, the 4 x 400 relay team of Bona Aman of STI College Novaliches, John Jabinal & Aljon Fostanes of STI College Fairview and Rhomer Clutario of STI College Global City, led from start to finish to win the gold and sneak past the Our Lady of Fatima Phoenix which was leading on points to get the overall team title in the Men's Division. The Olympians ended with 84 points while the Phoenix ended up at 76 points. Romeo Divinagracia of STI College Marikina was the other gold medalist as he ruled the Walkathon event. Clutario also picked up another silver medal in the Men’s 10k run while Mollenido got the bronze in the Men’s 100 and 200 meter dash.

Suzanne Prado is the first Lady Olympian

to win a gold medal

The Women’s team faced a stiffer opposition as the defending champion St. Clare Saints and CEU Scorpions got the stronger finish as the Lady Olympians settled for third. Leading the cause for the Lady Olympians was STI College Novaliches 2nd year BSIT student Suzanne Prado who won the gold medal in the Women’s walkathon. Veteran Joan Beriño added a bronze in the 100 meter dash and a silver in the 200 meter dash. Their efforts were enough to place them third as most of the other team members placed fourth in other events. Other members of the team include Kristina dela Cena of STI College Taft who is playing her third sport besides Volleyball and Badminton, Xyra Gomez, Sherianne Vidallon and Jen Brillantes of STI College Novaliches and Anna Mabanglo of STI College Fairview.

Bona Aman paved the way

for the 4x 400 meter lead and win

For the STI College Track and Field team, hardwork has its rewards as shown in what Dan Marasigan has done. Rising from the ashes of last year’s botched run Marasigan rose to the occasion to lead the Olympians to victory. This turnaround can be attributed to the exemplary discipline and hard work he put on to improve his craft. Truly a story worth being told to STIers for a long time.

The Victorious team

Lady Olympians repeat as NAASCU Billiards Champions

The STI College Olympians Billiards Team

The STI College Olympians Billiards team dominated the Women’s Division Team event and placed second in the Men’s Division of the recently concluded 11th NAASCU Billiards tournament which was held at the Star Paper Billiards hall. The Lady Olympians topped the Women's division by beating New Era University, Our Lady of Fatima University, Centro Escolar University and AMA to arrange a titular showdown with CEU. The Olympians beat the CEU Lady Scorpions in the finals 2 – 0 as Tapang and Dado won 3 - 2 and 3 – 0 respectively as the the doubles finals was not played anymore because of the win of the Olympians in the two tables.

Bea Dado for the win

Leading the way for the Lady Olympians is fourth year graduating BSIT student from STI College Quezon Avenue Beatrice Dado who will end her two year stint with the Olympians with back to back Golds in the 9 Ball and 10 ball category. Dado has never tasted defeat since last year and her experience proved to be the moving force behind the Lady Olympians rise to the top.

Diane Tapang shows them how

STI College Caloocan Third year BS HRM Olympian Diane Tapang likewise got the Gold medal in the 9 Ball Category. Unlike last year, Tapang was undefeated this year and she showed her resiliency as she clawed back time and again from losing positions and even on the brink of elimination to rise to victory. The tandem of Cherissa Tan and Cecilia Cid backed up the duo by getting the silver in the Doubles category.

Alex Aquino on the move

The Men’s team almost made it to the top but failed to win it all as the Fatima Phoenix won the deciding doubles match 5 – 3 to thwart the Olympians bid for a double championship. Leading the way for the Male Olympians is 2nd year HRS student Alexander Aquino from STI College Caloocan. The Olympians placed second in the eliminations and had a better tie breaker than last year’s champion AMACU Titans to advance to the finals. Aquino settled for silver in the 10 Ball category but it was his all around brilliance in the 10 ball and doubles category that made the Olympians a stubborn team to put away. Aquino beat Melvin Tan in the 10 ball finals but Jhay Dayo of STI College Quezon Avenue lost in the 9 Ball finals. The two eventually yielded to the streak pocketing Phoenix team to settle for second place. Dayo also got a silver in the 9 Ball category while the doubles team got the gold. Other members of the team are Wilmer Fagyan and John Rey Tapalla of STI College Global City and Ghino Pascual of STI College Novaliches. With the two best players in both divisions graduating, the Olympians hope that next year the elusive double championship will be attained.

TOURNAMENT SUMMARY

(L-R) John Rey Tapalla, Wilmer Fagyan, Alexander Aquino,

Jhay Dayo, Ghino Pascual

MEN’S DIVISION – 1ST Runner - UP

Individual Awards

Nine Balls - Silver Medal

Jhay Dayo, STI College Quezon Avenue

Ten Balls – Silver Medal

Alex Aquino, STI College Caloocan

Doubles - Gold Medal

Wilmer Fagyan, STI College Global City

Ghino Pascual, STI College Novaliches

John Rey Tapallam STI College Global City

(L-R) Cecilia Cid, Bead Dado, Diane Tapang, Cherissa Tan

WOMEN’S DIVISION – CHAMPION

Individual Awards

Nine Balls - Gold Medal

Diane Tapang, STI College Caloocan

Ten Balls - Gold Medal

Beatrice Dado, STI College Quezon Avenue

Doubles - Silver Medal

Cherissa Tan, STI College Quezon Avenue

Cecilia Cid, STI College Quezon Avenue

To view photos please click this LINK:

Philippine Collegiate Championship League Awarding

I got an invitation to 

accept the trophy of 

the 2012 Mindanao Champions 

of the 2012 Philippine Collegiate 

Champions League

Yours truly accepting 

the plaque for STI College Cagayan de Oro 

from Mr Joe Lipa and Rey Gamboa

STI COLLEGE OLYMPIANS PEP SQUAD

THE STI COLLEGE OLYMPIANS PEP SQUAD

11TH National Athletic Association of

Schools, Colleges & Universities (NAASCU)

Performance

YONEX SUNRISE CHALLENGE

Five members of the STI College Olympians Badminton team joined the Yonex Sunrise Philippines National Badminton Open. The move was made so that the players will be able to gain experience and more importantly learn from what they were about to witness. The Olympians who played were Kris Bermudez of STI College Quezon Avenue, 2 - BSHRM student who played in the Women's Seniors division. STI College Fairview Freshman Kursty Alley Bonete was entered in the 17 and under and 19 and under tournaments respectively where she fared well.

STI College Global City's Khen Frank Duron fared well in the 19 and under Junior's division and the open tournament. Joining the three are the two new faces in the team, Jovy Susbilla and Eman Yapo who are both from STI College Taft. Yapo was entered in the Men's Open while Susbilla in the Women's OPen. At the same time they both teamed up in the Mixed Doubles open. The experience these five players got will be needed come NAASCU time in January. On to the next tournament then.

Kris Bermudez prepares to hit the shuttle.

Jovy Susbilla on the go.

Olympians zap Scorpions 67 - 63

A steal by RK Morales

National University Coach and former National Youth Coach Eric Altamirano is blessed with good deputies during his time with the National Team and now with the Bulldogs in the UAAP. Two of his assistants are now strutting their wares in the National Athletic Association of Schools Colleges and Universities as Vic Ycasiano has been handling the STI College Olympians since 2004 while Mon Jose is on his third year for the Centro Escolar University Scorpions. Both coaches see to it that the RP Team is smoking when it comes to defense. That is why when both the Olympians and the Scorpions collided for the solo second spot, both teams employed similar defenses as if one team mirrored the other. In the end it was a game of wills as the STI College Olympians veterans came through to carve out a hard earned 67-63 win to gain solo second spot in the ongoing 11^th NAASCU.

Jerald Bautista scores off the steal

2009 Mythical 5 selectee Jerald Bautista and 2010 Mythical 5 selectee Rama Krisna (RK) Morales combined their forces in the third quarter as the Olympians finally caught up on the hard fighting Scorpions and more importantly gain the much needed momentum going into the pay-off period. The Scorpions started the game with more intensity as they forced the Olympians to turnovers and bad shots. The Mendiola based Scorpions racked up six straight points in the first three minutes as the Olympians could not buy a basket. The Scorpions were still leading 12 -5 with 4:36 left when the Olympians finally awoke from their slumber to put up a 7 – 2 run to end the first quarter just behind by a basket 12 – 14.

Lightning Maclean with a dunk on the fastbreak

At the start of the 2nd quarter, The Olympians inched closer to the Scorpions as their fastbreaking game got going and gave them a 17 -16 lead with just 49 seconds gone in the 2^nd canto. Unfortunately for the Olympians, the Scorpions stepped on the gas pedal as Leymund Babad and John Orbeta combined to give the Scorpions a paralyzing 12 - 3 run. The Olympians never knew what hit them as the Scorpions were threatening to blow the game wide open with a 28 -20 lead. The Olympians then closed the gap to a more manageable six point deficit at the half 30 - 24.

Eye in the sky play with Maclean Sabellina

At the start of the second half, the Scorpions unleashed their shooters as they took a 36-25 lead with seven minutes and thirty seconds left. Orbeta, Babad and Gabe Rublico found a crease in the Olympians defense to give them their biggest lead in the ball game. Just as the Scorpions were about to blow the Olympians out, the Taguig based band of Zeus immediately woke up from their nightmarish start to counter with a crippling 11 - 0 run in the next two minutes. RK Morales led the onslaught with his hustle defense as he stole the ball, scored and gave out assists to give the Olympians more breathing room as the 2007 champions tied the score 36 – all on an emphatic fastbreak dunk by Maclean Sabellina. From there on it was a see saw battle until the Olympians seized the momentum once again after Noel Ohandja put them back on the driver’s seat once more 48 - 47 on a buzzer beating put back.

Noel Ohandja beats the buzzer

At the start of the fourth quarter Jerald Bautista went to work as he scored six unanswered points. Bautista scored on a drive, on a jumper and on two free throws to hike the STI lead to seven 54 – 47 with 8 minutes left in the game. The Scorpions would cut the lead to four 53 – 57 with four minutes left but the Scorpions suddenly lost their sting as the Olympians once again went on an 8 – 0 blast to practically put the game beyond recall as they led 65 -54 with a minute and 21 seconds left in the game. The Scorpions still managed to put up a gallant stand but their game ending 9 -2 run was not enough to salvage the win. In the end, it was Coach Vic Ycasiano’s charges that won over Coach Mon Jose’s team as both coaches shook hands, the veteran smarts of the STI head coach finally breathed a sigh of relief for the hardest battle to win is when both of you come from similar backgrounds. The Olympians are now in solo second with a 9 -2 slate just a game behind the University of Manila who is at 10-1 and a full game ahead of CEU at 8 – 3. Informatics is at 7 -4 while Our Lady of Fatima is at 6 – 5 and the sixth placed team AMACU is 5 – 6.

RK Morales scores and gets fouled

The Scores:

STI COLLEGE (67)

Bautista 15, Morales 15, Melano 10, Ohandja 8, Ablaza 7, Sabellina 7, Moreno 3, Chavez 2, Riva 0, Gabo 0, Bocablo 0,

CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY (63)

Orbeta 17, Babad 17, Rublico 7, Dumapig 5, Lobaton 5, Garcia 3, Guillen 3, Garcia 3, Mejos 3, Magbitang 0, Gallardo 0, Parale 0, Jsamin 0, Chua 0, Lamosa 0,

Quarterscores 12-14, 24-30, 48-47, 67-63.

Jerald Bautista back to the basket lay up

Olympians beat Phoenix 74 - 52

Cedric Ablaza scores

There are three things that the STI College Olympians should always remember and do whenever they go up for a battle – Tenacity, Energy and Faith. The Olympians thrive on their inner strength, heart and determination which are the things that fuels their tenacious defense. Their defensive tenacity was shown at the start of the second half as the Olympians used that third quarter onslaught to gain momentum and carve out a convincing 74-52 win over their first round tormentors – the Our Lady of Fatima Phoenix.

Ivan Moreno collars the rebound

The Olympians ran their plays and defended the Phoenix cagers well but unfortunately there was something missing in the way they played – the Olympians lacked the energy to compete. The Olympians started the game like a house on fire as they went 5 -0 in the first minute of the game which led Fatima Coach Rensy Bajar to call an early time out. After that the Phoenix tightened their zone defense and countered with a 10 – 4 run to take the upperhand 10-9. The Olympians found it hard to find holes in the defense of the Phoenix which has found strength in their plays as they led the Olympians 16 – 15 after 10 minutes of play.

Maclean Sabellina on the fastbreak dunk

In the second quarter the Phoenix pounded the Olympians through superb plays and good defense as the Antipolo based Fatima team raced to a 23 – 18 lead after two minutes and 21 minutes of play. The Phoenix relied on the timely sniping of Paul Alba to keep the Olympians in check with a 29 -24 lead with 3:06 left in the half. The Olympians led by 6’4 forward Ivan Moreno eventually awakened from their slumber to string up six straight points to seize the upperhand 30 -29 with a minute and 35 seconds left in the half. The Phoenix scored a three pointer while the Olympians beat the buzzer as Noel Ohandja scored on a put back as time expired with both teams tied at the half with the score of 32 – all.

Moreno topscored for the Olympians

At the half, whatever STI College coach Vic Ycasiano said to his wards must’ve worked as the Olympians responded a hundred fold. The quarter started with a Jasper Melaño basket, a Jasper Melaño steal that was converted into two points and a Cedric Ablaza jumper. All of this in a span of one minute and three seconds that gave the Olympians a six point lead 38 – 32 which made Coach Rensy Bajar sue for time. In the ensuing play the Olympians forced the Phoenix into a turnover that eventually became a familiar refrain in the third quarter as the band of Zeus clamped down on the rise of the Phoenix. Joining the fray were Moreno, Cameroonian Noel Ohandja and D-League veteran Maclean Sabellina who combined for a 12 – 0 run after four straight points by the Phoenix. In a wink of an eye the Olympians were suddenly up by 15 with the score 51 -36. The Phoenix would squeeze in two more free throws but the Olympians would counter with six more points to erect a commanding 57 – 38 lead after three quarters. Fatima literally bled for their points.

RK Morales scores off a steal

The fourth quarter was merely a formality as the Olympians responded to every rally that the Phoenix would mount. The closest the Phoenix could get was at 48 -62 as their offense was in disarray and their life taken out of them. Leading the way for the Olympians is Moreno who topscored with 14 points while Sabellina added 10 and Ablaza and Jerald Bautista adding 9 apiece. Faith is what keeps the Olympians fire burning. The Olympians have faith in themselves and with each other and this is what makes their team a cut above the rest. The Olympians are still within striking distance of the University of Manila Hawks which beat AMACU 71 -68 to lead the league with nine wins and a lone loss which was the opening of the tournament against the Olympians. Stay tuned for the Olympians are on the verge of making it to the top.

Jerald Bautista scores in traffic

The Scores:

STI COLLEGE (74 )

Moreno 14, Sabellina 10, Ablaza 9, Bautista 9, Ohandja 6, Riva 6, Bocablo 5, Melano 4, Gabo 2, Morales 2, Chavez 2, Alcantara 0, Labis 0, Ihalas 0, Ortega 0, Bellosillo 0,

OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY (52)

Alba 18, Lacastesantos 8, Jacinto 7, Rivera 6, Villalon 5, Aque 5, Antalan 2, Nsoga 2, Rosales 0, Benavidez 0, Flores 0, Calaguiran 0,

Quarterscores 15-16, 32-32, 57-38, 74-52.

Ablaza lays it in

Olympians rout AMA for 2nd win

Sabellina dunks the ball

Hardwork, Discipline and Perseverance are three things that helps teams become hard to beat. For the STI College Olympians, their discipline is what makes them stick to the system that they are using, their perseverance is what makes them dive for loose balls and not give up on any play and their hardwork is what makes them extend their lead further. These three things are what the Olympians did in masterfully dispatching arch rival AMA Computer University 80 – 51 in the resumption of the Seniors Basketball Tournament of the NAASCU which was played at the STI Gym at the Fort.

Ablaza topscored for the Olympians

2010 NAASCU Mythical 5 Team Member RK Morales only scored 1 point while 2009 Mythical 5 selectee Jerald Bautista added three points. If this was a normal team, if you shut down their two best players you will be most probably be expecting a win. Unfortunately for the Titans, the Olympians have more weapons to use in their onslaught against the Titans. Third year forward Cedric Ablaza scored 17 points as the Olympians big men spelled the difference.

Gabo on the break away lay up

Dimunitive Olympian Point guard Hesed Gabo was somehow out of sync in this game as he turned over the ball 5 times. Luckily for Gabo he scored 13 points to make up for his earlier mistakes and bad passes as he atoned for another subpar game of veteran Norman Ihalas who failed to score. Gabo turned the tables around by getting steals and became a recepient of many fastbreak points as the Olympians tirelessly pressured the Titans to commit turnovers as the Taguig based Olympians put the game beyond recall at the start of the 4th quarter with a 20 point lead .

Lightning Maclean blocks Cabico

The Big men of the Olympians also stamped their class on the Titans as PBA D-League campaigner followed up his first game exploits with a 10 point production and together with another big man Ivan Moreno added another 10 points. Playing at the STI Gym for the first time this year, Sabellina did not disappoint the pro-STI crowd as he rattled off another rim rattling dunk shot to the delight of the STI Community. Sabellina started off by thrwarting a basket by Marvin Cabico and then changed most of the AMACU shots.

Cedric scores on a jumper

Sabellina and Moreno both stamped their class against the hapless Titans who were led by Mac Avellana who was the only one in double figures. The Olympians were quite tentative at first as Storm Riva, Abby Chavez and Cameroonian Import Noel Ohandja held the fort against the AMACU veterans Mark Macanlindan and Raymond Alvarado but once the Olympians got going with the timely spurts of the trio and great defense, the home team just went to cruise control for the hard earned 29 point win. The Olympians are now 2 - 0.

Ivan Moreno's patented

up & under move nets him 2 points

Box Scores:

STI COLLEGE (80)

Ablaza 17, Gabo 13, Sabellina 10, Moreno 10, Chavez 8, Ohandja 6, Melano 5, Bautista 4, Riva 4, Saldaña 2, Morales 1, Alcantara 0, Ortega 0, Ihalas 0, Labis 0,

AMACU (51)

Avellana 10, Alvarado 9, Mangalindan 9, Cabico 7, Villena 4, Ibarra 4, Sumay 4, Rios 2, Castellano 1, Nicolas 0, Ballesteros 0,

Quarterscores: 22 - 13, 40 - 31, 58 - 38, 80 - 51

Moreno scores two

Olympians open 11th NAASCU with a win

The STI College Olympians

There is a latin phrase that comes to mind after today’s NAASCU opener "Amat victoria curam - Victory favors those who take pains!" The University of Manila Hawks won the 10th NAASCU basketball title at the expense of the STI College which the Olympians took painfully and is now paying the dividends of their hard work the past year. After that loss, the Olympians have now resurrected and its the turn of the Olympians to return the favor as they clipped the UM Hawk’s wings with a resounding 92 -72 victory.

Lightning Maclean elevates for the dunk

The Olympians trapping defense produced wonders as they never let go until the end of the game. The Olympians forced the Hawks to numerous turnovers which in turn they translated to baskets. Leading the Olympians are their PBA Developmental League campaigners namely Cagayan de Oro native “Lightning” Maclean Sabellina who was a cut above the rest after scoring 23 points and hauling down 12 rebounds and swatting 3 shots. Sabellina who was recruited from the STI College Cagayan de Oro basketball team has now blossomed into a full pledge star as his three rim rattling dunks was tremendously applauded by the pre-dominant UM crowd.

Viernes cannot weather the Storm

The Olympians controlled the game early and had leads of three to five in the opening quarter which ended with the STI team on top 21 -16. In the second quarter the Olympians tried to put more distance between them and the Hawks as the men in yellow slowed down last year’s MVP Eugene Torres as a slew of defenders gave Torres only minimal space to operate. At the same time, Mythical 5 selectee and D-league point guard Jeff Viernes found it hard to penetrate the Olympians defense. The result was a ten point lead for the Olympians at the end of the half.

Excellent Quarterbacking by Hessed Gabo

The third quarter saw the Hawks open the second half with consecutive baskets to cut the Olympians lead. With the score pegged at 46 – 40 in favor of the Olympians, the Band of Zeus mercilessly pounded on the Hawks as veterans Norman Ihalas, Jasper Melano, Ivan Moreno, Lester Bocablo and RK Morales took turns in scoring and made life harder for the Hawks as they alternately stole the ball, got the rebound and ran the break which resulted in a 15 point third quarter lead 61 – 46.

Lightning Maclean dunks the ball again

By the fourth quarter, the Hawks unleashed their final stand by unloading 26 points but was unfortunately matched by the Olympians everytime the Hawks would scored. Everytime the defending champs would start a run, Maclean Sabellina was there to douse cold water on the Hawks efforts. Sabellina’s energy was unmatched and that was what he used to infect his other team mates as the Olympians served notice to the rest of the league that every one who would lay claim to the NAASCU title would have to pass through them.

undergoal action

In the other games, the New Era Hunters beat the City of Pasay Eagles 66 – 62, the Centro Escolar University Scorpions beat Our Lady of Fatima Phoenix 77 – 69.

The scores:

STI COLLEGE (92)

Sabellina 23, Moreno 12, Melano 12, Bocablo 11, Morales 9, Gabo 7, Ihalas 6, Ohandja 5, Ablaza 4, Bautista 3, Riva 0, Chavez 0, Labis 0,

UNIVERSITY OF MANILA (72)

Torres 17, Viernes 14, Ruiz 13, Manuel 12, Ibay 10, Ancheta 4, Flores 2, Bonleon 0

Quarterscores: 21 -16, 41 - 31, 61 - 46, 92 - 72

Ivan Moreno for two

Lady Spikers win Viray Volleyball Cup

3RD VIRAY CUP CHAMPION

STI COLLEGE OLYMPIANS LADY SPIKERS

LEAGUE MVP and MYTHICAL 6 SELECTEE

MA. SHARINA TORRES

Coach Philip Salaysay

gives out instructions

Sha Torres serves

GO STI!!!

MVP vs. MVP action

Tina dela Cena shows em how

The LADY SPIKERS Rejoice

Veteran Libero Joan Beriño

and rookie Sherianne Vidallon

Crowd favorites

Tina Dela Cena & Nica Martinez