Tiger athletes ready to domin-8 UAAP Season 87
Written by: Stephanie Vargas
In their eighth consecutive bid for the overall collegiate championship in the UAAP, a sea of yellow-clad Thomasians rallied behind their student-athletes during the UAAP Season 87 kickoff party on Friday, September 6.
With the newest season’s theme “Stronger. Better. Together,” the University began its kickoff activities with a Eucharistic Celebration, where UST Athletics Director and Regent Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P., challenged the University’s athletes and coaches to be ‘stronger and better’ by innovating their strategies this season.
“Sometimes we do not want to innovate. We just copy [other people] because it’s easier,” Fr. Cansansio said, encouraging the athletes to step out of their comfort zones. Quoting the scripture, he added, “‘New wine should be poured out into new wineskins,’” highlighting the need for fresh ideas and strategies to reclaim victory in this new season.
The mass was followed by the grand kickoff party at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, which featured performances by UST athletes from various sports. They were joined by organizations such as UST SHS Galvanize, UST Prime, UST Sinag Ballroom, UST Yellow Jackets, and the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. UST Tiger TV added to the festivities with interactive games like “Pera o Bota” and “Streak.”
In preparation for the symbolic torch-lighting ceremony, UST Rector Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang O.P., PhD, reminded the athletes that the lighted torch represents their burning passion to strive for greatness and to uphold the spirit of fair play and unity.
“Let this flame remind us that we are indeed ‘stronger and better together.’ To all our athletes, as you step into every match, remember that you are not alone. We stand behind you, cheering you on and celebrating every victory, challenge, and struggle,” Fr. Ang added.
Fr. Ang, along with IPEA Regent Fr. Cansancio, student-athletes, and representatives from this season’s host school, the University of the Philippines, led the torch-lighting ceremony.
In his closing remarks, Fr. Cansancio highlighted the importance of unity in achieving success within the UAAP community.
“For this season, hindi lang hina-highlight ‘yung excellence natin, ‘yung galing natin sa iba’t ibang klaseng sports. But we would like to highlight and celebrate our being one… UAAP is a community; it’s a family. At katulad ng [sinasabi ng] tema natin, we are better and we will remain stronger if we are together,” Fr. Cansancio said.
The event, hosted by Maykla Chavez, Bailey’s Acot, Paul Nucum, and UST College of Science’s Chelsea Rusiana, concluded with an athlete’s parade around the campus and the most-awaited exhibition match between the UST Women’s Volleyball Team and the defending Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational champions, Kurashiki Ablaze. The Golden Tigresses fought hard but fell to Kurashiki, 21–25, 27–29, 25–17, 19–25.
To cap off the day, the Main Building and the Arch of the Centuries were illuminated in yellow, signifying UST’s support for its athletes as they compete in UAAP Season 87.
