UAAP fetes Ateneo tanker, AdU softball star
Ateneo swimming standout Alberto Batungbacal and Adamson softball star Angelie Ursabia basked in the limelight as the UAAP Season 79’s Athletes of the Year during the league’s closing ceremonies last night at University of Santo Tomas campus.
MVP swimmer Batungbacal earned the nod as top collegiate athlete in the individual category after leading the Blue Eagles to a three-peat with his record-breaking wins in the 1,500-meter freestyle, 200m and 100m breaststroke, and 400m individual medley.
For her part, Ursabia won the accolade in the team category after bannering the Lady Falcons to a seven-peat and capping her final year with the MVP, Most Home Run and Best Slugger awards.
“Sobrang saya, lahat ng pinaghirapan ko ito ang naging kapalit. Last playing year ko na, nakuha pa ang award na ito (This is a good reward for all my hardwork, it makes my last playing year a lot more memorable),” said Ursabia.
A former Big League Softball World Series campaigner, Ursabia next focuses on her stint as member of the Phl Blu Girls competing in two major world tournaments in the US, and moves up to join the Adamson coaching staff.
“Magiging inspirasyon ko ito (I will be more inspired to work harder),” said Ursabia, who followed another softball star, Queeny Sabobo in winning UAAP AoY.
In the high division, La Salle Zobel swimmer Nicole Pamintuan (individual) and National U volleyball team’s Lawrence Cruz took the highest plums in the high school division.
Meanwhile, 16 college and high school players were honored with the Athlete Scholar awards for excelling both in the sporting arena and in the classroom. Far Eastern’s Janelle Mae Frayna, the country’s first Woman Grandmaster, was among the awardees.
The La Salle Dance Company-Street, upended the reign of three-peat champ University of the Philippines Street Dance Club in the UAAP Street Dance Competition.
The La Salle crew got a winning 89 points from the judges to win its third crown overall as UP (88.75) settled for second after its three-peat. UST Pride (85.75) took third.
UST was formally awarded the general championship in both the seniors and juniors division and in its last task as season host, handed over the hosting chores to Far Eastern U.