MANILA, 21 March 2003 — University of Santo Tomas (UST) became the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ (UAAP) best for the umpteenth time, earning two prestigious trophies as overall champions in the collegiate and high school divisions.
UST did not fare strong enough in the centerpiece men’s basketball tournament which Ateneo won but was devastating elsewhere and topped seven of 26 events and finished second also in seven of them to run away with the senior division’s overall crown.
UST almost walked the tight rope in the collegiate level, but in the end, La Salle’s frantic bid fell short.
The Growling Tigers totaled 295 points, beating the Green Archers who had more crowns with nine but hardly were in the running in the other events. La Salle had 273 points.
UST topped men’s athletics, judo, lawn tennis, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball and women’s table tennis while La Salle was triumphant in men’s baseball, chess and swimming and in women’s basketball, badminton, chess, football, lawn tennis and swimming. Rounding out the seniors standings were University of the Philippines (UP) third with 248, followed by University of the East (UE) fourth with 196, Ateneo fifth 170, Far Eastern (FEU) sixth 148, Adamson seventh 87 and National University (NU) eighth 18.
UST was as dominating in the high school hostilities and with three titles — boys’ and girls’ swimming and boys’ taekwondo — to emerge overall champion with 97 points.
UE almost shoved UST out of the pedestal with 94 points built around its conquest of boys’ chess and volleyball. La Salle was third with 81, followed by Ateneo with 79, UP with 76, NU with 22 and Adamson with eight.
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Antonio Captures La Union Chess Crown
Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio ruled the second La Union Open chess championship at the fourth floor of Marcos Building, City of San Fernando, La Union.
Handling the white pieces, the second seed Antonio defeated 14th seed NM Ronald Llavanes in marathon 71 moves of a Pirc Defense to notch 8.0 points out of the possible nine and bag the top purse of 50, 000 pesos plus trophy and the title of 2003 La Union Open chess king.
Top seed GM Eugene Torre beat deposed champion NM Emmanuel Senador after 64 moves of an Alekhine defense to score 7.5 points and take home the runner-up prize of 30, 000 pesos and trophy.
Two-time national junior champion NM John Paul Gomez, who upset NM Richard Bitoon, and seventh seed FIDE Master Jesse Noel Sales, who won over NM Rolando Andador, tallied identical 7.0 points apiece to share the third and fourth place prizes.
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GMA Gives Lanao Palaro a Go
President Arroyo has placed the fate of Tubod’s Palarong Pambansa hosting completely in the hands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as she said the games will go on in Lanao del Norte province unless the military decides otherwise.
The Chief Executive made the reaction after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said it would seek counsel from Malacañang, the military and even Lanao del Norte authorities on whether to suspend the games or move the May 4-11 event elsewhere.
Should the military justify Tubod’s Palaro hosting, the organizers would still need to convince participants that the place is safe considering the recent Davao City international airport bombing and the clashes between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the military, which also spilled over at the Tubod town itself a week ago.
Some schools, including private institutions, have already considered skipping the meet as parents and teachers have expressed concern over peace and order in the area.
Informed sources said that sports officials are trying to convince Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo and Rep. Abdullah “Bobby” Dimaporo last night to postpone anew its much-delayed hosting until next year.
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Navarette, 11 Other Boxers Get Doleouts
Twelve more disabled boxers, led by former world champion Rolando Navarette, received financial assistance from the Disabled Boxers’ Trust Fund at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City.
Jaime Mata, officer in charge of the Games and Amusement Board’s extension office in Davao City, doled out a total of 140,000 pesos, including 20,000 pesos to Navarette. The other recipients were Richard Cubillas, Paulo Entero, Jose Gaviola, Garciano Atayde, Victorino Rogelio Butalid, Gerardo Quinones, Larry Geconcillo Sr., Diego Grealvo, Jemuel Maguinsay, Dionie Inting and Federico Quijano.
Thirty-three destitute and disabled ex-pros, led by Pretty Boy Lucas and Rey and George Tam, received financial assistance during the first doleout held last month at the GAB main office in Makati City.
Senior deputy executive secretary Waldo Flores and the Disabled Fund trustees — GAB chairman Eduardo Villanueva, Philippine Boxing Association president Gov. Raul Daza and Philippine Sportswriters Association president Roberto Cuevas — graced the affair. Former GAB secretary Atty. Rudy Salud also attended the event together with several boxing promoters and managers.
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Tuñacao RP’s 2nd World Boxing Champ
Cebuano Noel Tuñacao became the country’s second world boxing champion after stopping previously unbeaten Atrinset Matta of Indonesia in the 11th round to win the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) mini-flyweight title in Bali, Indonesia.
The 32-year old native of Mandaue City became the first Filipino to win the world title in Bali, a world-class resort. He won the inaugural 105-lb division of the lightly-regarded IBO.
