UST bags general championship

MANILA — Swimmer Alberto Batungbacal of Ateneo de Manila University and softball player Angelie Ursabia of Adamson University were named UAAP Season 79 Athletes of the Year during the league’s closing ceremonies held at the University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila on Saturday.

Batungbacal ruled the 200-meter breaststroke, eventually winning Most Valuable Player in swimming.

Ursabia powered the Lady Falcons past the UST Tigresses in the softball finals in her final year. She took home the season MVP honors besides winning awards for Most Homeruns and Best Slugger.

"Sobrang saya kasi iyong pinaghirapan ko may kapalit lahat," Ursabia said. "Last playing year ko na ito. First time ko makatanggap ng award na ito."

"Pinagdaan ng team ko sobrang hirap. Hindi madaling kalabanin yung mga school," she added. "Sinabi sa akin ni coach na dream come true."

Swimmer Nikki Pamintuan of De La Salle-Zobel and Lawrence Cruz of the National University Bullpups volleyball team were also the top athletes in the juniors division.

"Iba iyong feeling na athlete of the year ka overall sa UAAP. Iba iyong UAAP, kasi sobrang laki niya," Pamintuan said.

"Sobrang blessed ko na ako ang athlete of the year. First athlete of the year ko ito," she added. "Marami ako pinagdaanan bago ko nakuha ito kasi sa UAAP, may school pa so patong-patong. May school work, training at family pa."

Batungbacal and Cruz weren't able to attend Saturday's ceremonies.

Other athletes honored by the UAAP were:

Athlete Scholars Awardees:

High School
John Ryan Ancheta – Adamson University
Philip Joaquin Santos – Ateneo de Manila University
Sacho Ilustre – De La Salle Zobel
John Marcib Miciano – Far Eastern University
Faith Nisperos – National University
Samantha Catantan – University of the East
Marie Hilario – University of the Philippines
Ronalyn Joyce Lalimo – University of Sto. Tomas

College
Rhia Gaite - Adamson University
Patricia Sarmiento - Ateneo de Manila University
Michael Carlo del Pardo - De La Salle University
Janelle Me Frayna - Far Eastern University
Mike Minuluan - National University
Nathaniel Perez - University of the East
Jose Miguel San Juan - University of the Philippines
Noelito Jose Jr - University of Sto. Tomas

Host school UST, meanwhile, bagged the general championship in UAAP Season 79 after grabbing seven 1st-place, nine 2nd-place, and three 3rd-place trophies.

UST ruled men's and women's beach volleyball, men's taekwondo, men's and women's judo, men's table tennis, and women's athletics. They also placed second in baseball, softball, women's football, poomsae, women's taekwondo, women's table tennis, men's and women's lawn tennis, and men's fencing.

The España-based squad finished third in women's volleyball, women's fencing, and men's athletics.

UST eventually turned over the hosting of UAAP Season 80 to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. -- With a report from Karl Cedric Basco, ABS-CBN News

This story was originally published on the ABS-CBN Sports website.