SPORTS NEWS

UCAAB launch first ‘official’ season

By John Kevin Benigno, Angelina Mae Eugenio and Kristoffer Llyod Quicho

FIRE ON. Stallion volleybelle Alona Lazaro and dance sports mainstay Franz Franco lead the lighting of the torch as a symbol of the official opening of the first UCAAB season, January 27, 2012.                                                                    Jenah Rizzi Mendoza

 

      

          The Universities and Colleges Athletic Association of Bataan, the most exciting tournament in the province and staging 11 educational institutions, kicked off its first official season, Bataan People’s Center, January 27.

                 The event was graced by Congressman Albert Garcia and Mayor Joet Garcia, who are both in full support to the endeavor.

               “Full of energy, talagang all out ‘yung mga schools [support], napakaganda nga kasi formally na set up na ‘yung UCAAB. It is SEC registered so siguradong mas magiging organized pa ‘yung mga future activities,” Mayor Joet Garcia exclaimed.

                Meanwhile, BPSU and UCAAB Season 1 President, Dr. Delfin O. Magpantay, believed that the presence of the students, aside from their expected involvement, is the most important thing to consider during events like the UCAAB.

              Some of the highlights of the opening program ceremony were the search for this year’s Ms. UCAAB, dance sports competition, and special performances from the participating universities and colleges.

     The event will showcase six events namely: basketball, volleyball, badminton, billiards, chess and table tennis, which will start on January 30 for team categories and February 6 for individual categories.

            In the last year’s try-out season of the UCAAB, BPSU emerged as the over-all champion by dominating almost all of the events.

SPORTS NEWS

Glorious final bow

Stallions dominate dance floor battle

GOLDEN GRACE. Jomar Medrano and Kryzna Marie Esconde outshine four other protagonists to bring home the crown for BPSU in the Standard Category of the UCAAB dance sports showdown, Bataan People's Center, Jan. 27, 2012.                                                                                                                                              Mhikie T. Manzanares

By Joey P. del Mundo

Marking up a promising start for BPSU, Stallion dance floor bets ruled the dancing arena as Kryzna Marie Esconde, Jomar Medrano, Mia Fe Florino and Allanthony Maniago wowed the intense crowd that gathered inside the Bataan People’s Center in their way to bag the crown in the first official dance sports competition in UCAAB 2012, January 27.

Esconde and Medrano bested four other protagonists in the Standard category while Florino, together with her dance floor partner Maniago, knocked down all of their five rivals with their stunning grooves in the Latin Category

         It was a glorious final bow for Esconde and Florino, who are both graduating from their respective programs come March.

“This is the second and last time to enjoy UCAAB kaya super happy ako, ginawa ko’ yung best ko, mas naramdaman ko na I really deserved the win. Pinaghirapan namin ‘to, after SCUAA, even though nag-silver kami doon, at least dito sa Bataan napatuyan pa rin namin na kaya namin. ‘Yung pagod, ‘yung hirap, yung effort, lahat. Mula sa trainor, sa coach, pinaghirapan namin lahat ng ‘to para sa BPSU,” Esconde shared.

Meanwhile, despite their victory, Florino remains humble saying, “Medyo kabado pa rin, tulad ng dati kasi siyempre ‘di naman namin alam ‘yung mga makakalaban namin, kung mas magaling ba sa amin kahit na alam namin na nasa maayos kaming training program.”

The same pairs bagged silver medals in the recently concluded State Universities and Colleges – Region III Olympics.