Month of joy and satisfaction: DLSU, UST rise; ACT CIS's Tulfo expresses delight

by Dennis Eroa

NOT only unforgettable, but December gave us hope that everything is going to be great as we face 2024.

Forget about the rising cost of living, road rage, unfulfilled dreams, intramurals, karaoke singing by neighbors till past midnight, and paid bloggers intent on twisting the truth.

Christmas is a time for loving each other. Trash all your worries and look forward with smiles. Don’t create negative vibes, We have individual struggles, but at the end of the day, we must embrace our fate with new-found confidence that things will soon be as bright as the rising sun. Life can be brutal but it can also be amazing and fulfilling.

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength– Arnold “Terminador” Schwarzenneger.

Written off by many after getting bamboozled by 30 points by the UP Maroons in Game One, 97-67 of the UAAP title series, DLSU Archers produced a magical comeback for the ages to win the next two games and the series.

It was the first title for the Taft-based after seven years of futility. And it created a star name Kevin Quiambao and with a bit of showbiz, the Kitnelle love story.

The wonderful thing about the triumph of the Green Archers is the acceptance of their rivals, including deposed champions Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Maroons, themselves that DLSU is deserving of the championship.

A major contributor to the DLSU’s symphony of grace, ruggedness, and speed are the fans and its management. I have to point out that soft-spoken Terry Capistrano, also the man behind the success of world-class EJ Obiena being the president of the country’s athletics federation, played a crucial role with the DLSU’s officials and supporters including billionaire Ricky Razon. Capistrano is one of DLSU’s managers.

The fans, of course, always gave the Archers the extra lift.

Robinson, who is taking up sports management at DLSU, said he never gave up knowing the avalanche of support behind him.

“Guys are really giving me the courage to move even if I’m questioning myself. You just don’t want to give up,” said Robinson. Sporting pundits were one to say that DLSU will find it hard to bounce back after getting trampled in Game One.

Robinson thus joined Franz Pumaren, Juno Sauler and Aldin Ayo as DLSU’s champion coaches.

The magnificent triumph also was a moment to remember for Congressman Erwin Tulfo of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support.

Congressman Erwin Tulfo of the Anti Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support

Formerly Social Welfare secretary, Tulfo’s youngest son studies at De La Salle-Greenhills. Everybody knows that La Sallians erupted with joy following the victory.

“I think the win is a proof that hardwork plus talent will produce magnificent results,” said Tulfo in an exclusive interview. “The Green Archers are role models and their attitudes and demeanor must be copied by the younger generation.”

Tulfo, a multi-awarded broadcast journalist, host, commentator and true public servant, is not all about helping the downtrodden. He relaxes by going into the firing range and riding his big bike. Also, the main host of Punto Asintado Reload makes it a point to relax by going to the countryside.

Tulfo’s heart for the poor cannot be questioned.

ANIMO LA SALLE!

EXPLOSION OF JOY AT ESPANA

You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is a real joy. – Arthur Ashe

Tear-jerking stuff. Can’t blame veteran mentor Haydee Ong and the UST Golden Tigresses for shedding tears of joy as they faced an equally delighted press. The Espana-based lady dribblers are just the seemingly unbreakable dynasty of NU Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP women’s basketball.

“I’m lost for words,” said Ong. “My players never gave up.”

While remembering the seasons where UST always got beat by more than 30 points in the past. UST survived a heartstopper Game 3 to snap long years of futility against NU which is the gauge for excellence in women’s basketball. UST last won the title in 2006.

“NU,” says Ong raised the bar for women’s basketball.

Ong, who praised her players notably Tantoy Ferrer, Kent Pastrana, Tacky Tacatac and Nikki Villasin never shied away from praising

NU’s basketball program. National team mentor Patrick Aquino handed the coaching reins to longtime deputy Aris Dimaunahan.

“NU’s seven consecutive years as champions is proof of its winning program,” noted Ong.

True to form, Dimaunahan gallantly accepted the loss.

“My fault. I’m sorry for putting you in this position and should have coached you better,” said Dimaunahan after losing by a whisker to UST, 71-69.

The hard-earned victory epitomized UST’s perseverance. It did not happen overnight but was the result of a well-planned program that would not be possible without the overwhelming support from alumni and school officials.

With the win, the Golden Tigresses played a major part in restoring UST’s pride in the light of the forgettable campaign of the men’s team.

Though women’s basketball isn’t as popular compared to its men’s counterpart, UST’s victory is a huge boost for its steady rise. That rise, of course, started to gain momentum with the fantastic finishes of the women’s national basketball team under Patrick Aquino, who with sportsman-businessman Dioceldo Sy, authored NU’s dynasty.

Jema Galanza of Creamline vs. the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals on December 14, 2023. [PVL Images]

VOLLEYBALL HEAVEN

Don’t be surprised if the Creamline Cool Smashers and Choco Mucho dream title series for the All-Filipino Conference title goes down the wire.

Both the Cool Smashers and the Flying Titans have lured near-fanatical fans due to their take-no-prisoner styles of play. To be very precise, both teams are willing to sacrifice their limbs to keep the ball alive.

The series is an early Christmas gift to all (Thank you for organizing Sports Vision) and as I’ve been saying over and over again, we forget our worries watching the volleybelles “kill” each other.

I’m a fan of F2 Logistics, but right now I’ll never going to hide my feelings for Choco Mucho to stop the Creamline juggernaut.

Love is the sweet scent of Christmas. Fly high, Flying Titans!

Author
Recent Posts

Dennis Eroa

Columnist at Sports Bytes PH

After 25 years of working with the Inquirer Group of Companies, Dennis decided to make an early retirement due to the pandemic. Formerly a college editor of UE’s The Dawn, Dennis learned the craft from the country’s leading chroniclers of sports namely Recah Trinidad, Al Mendoza,Jimmy Cantor, Chito Manuel and the late Larry Galvez, Doc Inigo and Tito Tagle. In the early 90s, Dennis became a section editor of Riyadh Daily, Saudi Arabia’s first English newspaper. He is an active member and officer of the Philippine Sportswriters Association, Tabloids Organization in Philippines and the Sports Communicators Organization in the Philippines, He covered local and international sporting events while working at Sports Flash, Malaya, Headline, Evening Standard, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Libre and Bandera.