blade saliva,
For the UPIS Track and Field (TnF) Team, last year was a successful return to the podium.
With lightning on their cleats, they ran through boundaries and now, after months of hard work and preparation, they’re dashing their way back to the podium. This time, they’re not letting that gold out of their sights.
Better Than Ever
With seniors at the helm, the UPIS TnF Team aims to improve last year’s bronze finish in this year’s 79th UAAP Season on February 8-12 at the ULTRA Philippine Sports Complex. With majority of the core players still intact, the TnF Team hopes to leave the mistakes of the past season behind them.
According to their team captain, Gabriel Aparato, they have been preparing intensely by joining off-season competitions like the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and the Milo Little Olympics. “This year mas may experience na kami and more trained,” he explained. The said competitions gave them more time to evaluate their performances, focus on their weaknesses, and improve in every way they can.
After a forgettable performance last year, with only one player earning a medal, the TnF throwers vow to make this season count.
Throughout the pre-season prep, they never missed opportunities to improve by training almost 7 days a week. According to some of them, trainings are becoming more intense as the season approaches. “Nag-iba sistema ngayon. Dati apat lang kinukuha tapos lahat ng events sa kanila, pero ngayon nadagdagan na yung kinuha kaya mas makakapag-focus na kami sa events namin,” said Nathan Ramos about the huge changes in their line-up.
Another factor that they think will affect their standing is the huge improvement of returning senior James Cruz. Don’t let his height distract you from the things he can do inside the track oval. He is a beast. In fact, he is one of the only two athletes who made it past the 10m mark at the shotput event in last year’s Milo Little Olympics.
Swan Song
All eyes, however, are on the 18 Seniors, including Forth Soriano and Charles Epino, as they don the colors of maroon and green one last time.
Soriano has already bagged 3 golds and a bronze in his UAAP career while sprinter and former team captain Epino has 3 bronzes, a silver, and a gold to his name.
Their experience and leadership will come a long way as they can use it to take advantage of the younger teams. Backing them up are fellow returnees Christian Pagadora, Gyles Abac, and Jasper Atela.
The Silent Operator
You might think of him as the quiet type, but when he gets his spikes on, veteran sprinter Jasper Atela becomes a completely different person. Disqualified after being late for his triple jump event, costing him, and ultimately the team, crucial points, Atela is said to be the missing link in last year’s title run. Despite this minor setback, nothing stopped him, Epino, Jerick Marquez and Reinard Grimaldo, from finishing third in the 4x400 relay during the recent Milo Little Oympics.
Training hard every day and avoiding injury-causing activities, Atela’s preparation is certainly a road paved for redemption. According to his team mates, he is certainly one of the players to watch out for.
Girl Power
With more schools expected to join the girls’ division, debuting senior Shaina Queri is expected to lead the TnF Dashing Junior Maroons to another podium finish in the girls’ division.
After playing twice in the UAAP with the UPIS Girls Volleyball Team, she found new love on the tartan track. Other seniors have said that she has been preparing all year long and that she aims to emerge at the top in all three of her events. Although she displayed amazing pre-season performance, Queri admitted that the UAAP is on a different level.
“Siyempre iba pa rin yung UAAP dahil mas may pressure dun. Tapos yung mga makakalaban namin alam naming sobra din silang naghahanda,” she shared. Still she hopes for the UPIS community’s support as they aim to make the top three this season.
Next in Line
Now that this is the last year for the TnF team’s core, new players need to step up and fill in their shoes.
Aparato, Bea Jacinto, Grimaldo, Megarth Morillo and Josh Sabido are getting ready to take on this responsibility. Even as they compete in this year’s UAAP with the burden of carrying the team’s name next year, they expect to dominate the coming season. Despite being younger than most of their teammates, only Jacinto is competing in the UAAP for the first time.
“Excited! Pero more on kinakabahan kasi first time,” she says about playing in the UAAP for the first time.
With both old and new faces, the UPIS TnF team is certainly going to take the UAAP Season 79 by storm. With the prospect of success in their books, they certainly won’t be settling for anything less than last year’s performance. // by Blade Saliva and Julian Taloma
Sports: UPIS TnF Team: Dashing to the Top
For the UPIS Track and Field (TnF) Team, last year was a successful return to the podium.
With lightning on their cleats, they ran through boundaries and now, after months of hard work and preparation, they’re dashing their way back to the podium. This time, they’re not letting that gold out of their sights.
Better Than Ever
With seniors at the helm, the UPIS TnF Team aims to improve last year’s bronze finish in this year’s 79th UAAP Season on February 8-12 at the ULTRA Philippine Sports Complex. With majority of the core players still intact, the TnF Team hopes to leave the mistakes of the past season behind them.
According to their team captain, Gabriel Aparato, they have been preparing intensely by joining off-season competitions like the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and the Milo Little Olympics. “This year mas may experience na kami and more trained,” he explained. The said competitions gave them more time to evaluate their performances, focus on their weaknesses, and improve in every way they can.
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| REDEMPTION. The UPIS Track and Field Team is all smiles after making it back to the podium last season. In preparation for Season 79, they're pulling out all the stops, with all eyes on the prize. Photo credit: Rain Grimaldo |
After a forgettable performance last year, with only one player earning a medal, the TnF throwers vow to make this season count.
Throughout the pre-season prep, they never missed opportunities to improve by training almost 7 days a week. According to some of them, trainings are becoming more intense as the season approaches. “Nag-iba sistema ngayon. Dati apat lang kinukuha tapos lahat ng events sa kanila, pero ngayon nadagdagan na yung kinuha kaya mas makakapag-focus na kami sa events namin,” said Nathan Ramos about the huge changes in their line-up.
Another factor that they think will affect their standing is the huge improvement of returning senior James Cruz. Don’t let his height distract you from the things he can do inside the track oval. He is a beast. In fact, he is one of the only two athletes who made it past the 10m mark at the shotput event in last year’s Milo Little Olympics.
Swan Song
All eyes, however, are on the 18 Seniors, including Forth Soriano and Charles Epino, as they don the colors of maroon and green one last time.
Soriano has already bagged 3 golds and a bronze in his UAAP career while sprinter and former team captain Epino has 3 bronzes, a silver, and a gold to his name.
Their experience and leadership will come a long way as they can use it to take advantage of the younger teams. Backing them up are fellow returnees Christian Pagadora, Gyles Abac, and Jasper Atela.
The Silent Operator
You might think of him as the quiet type, but when he gets his spikes on, veteran sprinter Jasper Atela becomes a completely different person. Disqualified after being late for his triple jump event, costing him, and ultimately the team, crucial points, Atela is said to be the missing link in last year’s title run. Despite this minor setback, nothing stopped him, Epino, Jerick Marquez and Reinard Grimaldo, from finishing third in the 4x400 relay during the recent Milo Little Oympics.
Training hard every day and avoiding injury-causing activities, Atela’s preparation is certainly a road paved for redemption. According to his team mates, he is certainly one of the players to watch out for.
Girl Power
With more schools expected to join the girls’ division, debuting senior Shaina Queri is expected to lead the TnF Dashing Junior Maroons to another podium finish in the girls’ division.
After playing twice in the UAAP with the UPIS Girls Volleyball Team, she found new love on the tartan track. Other seniors have said that she has been preparing all year long and that she aims to emerge at the top in all three of her events. Although she displayed amazing pre-season performance, Queri admitted that the UAAP is on a different level.
“Siyempre iba pa rin yung UAAP dahil mas may pressure dun. Tapos yung mga makakalaban namin alam naming sobra din silang naghahanda,” she shared. Still she hopes for the UPIS community’s support as they aim to make the top three this season.
Next in Line
Now that this is the last year for the TnF team’s core, new players need to step up and fill in their shoes.
Aparato, Bea Jacinto, Grimaldo, Megarth Morillo and Josh Sabido are getting ready to take on this responsibility. Even as they compete in this year’s UAAP with the burden of carrying the team’s name next year, they expect to dominate the coming season. Despite being younger than most of their teammates, only Jacinto is competing in the UAAP for the first time.
“Excited! Pero more on kinakabahan kasi first time,” she says about playing in the UAAP for the first time.
With both old and new faces, the UPIS TnF team is certainly going to take the UAAP Season 79 by storm. With the prospect of success in their books, they certainly won’t be settling for anything less than last year’s performance. // by Blade Saliva and Julian Taloma
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