By Mary Bridget Ardelle Costuna
Underdogs.
This was how University of the Philippines Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma described the UP varsity teams that are set to compete in the upcoming UAAP 74th season.
“We are aware that compared to other universities, UP has always been an underdog,” Saloma said Friday at the university pep rally at the College of Science Amphitheater.
However, the chancellor added that the university still managed to “win against the goliaths” despite the lack of high quality training facilities and equipment. UP is the only state university among the eight competing schools in the league.
Last season, though winless in men’s basketball, UP clinched the crown in four events: football, swimming, fencing and the cheer dance competition.
“You bear the proud name of UP on your uniforms,” Saloma told the varsity teams. “Do well and the glory of winning is not only yours but ours as well.”
Meanwhile, UP’s athletes welcomed the new UAAP season with a talent show during the annual pep rally, with members of the different varsity teams performing a variety of dances.
The swim team presented a yoga-based routine, while the judo team performed a line dance number. Players from the basketball team chose to do a Latin dance, and their volleyball counterparts showed a street dance number onstage. Members of the football, softball, table tennis, lawn tennis and badminton teams also performed.
The 74th UAAP season is hosted by the Ateneo de Manila University. The opening ceremonies will be done at the Marikina Sports Complex on July 9, while the basketball event will kick off at the Araneta Coliseum the following day. With reports from Karlitos Brian Decena.
1 comment
boosts morale? really? how about our men’s basketball team? they are one of the teams that needs our support. and those kids from UP cannot understand that. they are only after the win-lose standing of the team.