UniGames: DLSU bags 3 championships

The DLSU varsity teams impressed yet again, this time on a national stage during the 18th UniGames. The tournament featured 72 different colleges and universities and it was held from last October 20 to 28.

The annual spectacle was held in Bacolod City once again, the same city where the original edition of the games was held back in 1996 after it was conceptualized by then-University of St. La Salle President Bro. Rolando Dizon, FSC.

Among the teams that competed, the Green Paddlers, Green Woodpushers and Lady Woodpushers took home championships. Meanwhile, the Green Spikers, Lady Paddlers and Green Tankers finished the tourney with silver medals. The Green Spikers fell once to SWU in the elimination round but managed to bounce back and they ousted USLS in the semifinals. They would eventually lose steam in the finals though as they fell to reigning UAAP champion NU in four sets.

On the other hand, the Green Tankers finished with 10 gold, 10 silver and three bronze medals in the Men’s Swimming tourney to finish behind San Beda College who grabbed 15 gold, 12 silver and seven bronze medals. The UAAP Season 76 runner-up Lady Paddlers repeated their feat, finishing second to UNO-R in a heartbreaking defeat.

The reigning three-time UAAP champion Lady Spikers suffered a defeat in the semifinals to the FEU Lady Tamaraws in straight sets to fall out of championship contention. Despite an unblemished 5-0 record after the eliminations, the Lady Spikers were unable to maintain their momentum as they fell to FEU. They redeemed themselves on the following day however in the battle-for-third, winning in straight sets against the AdU Lady Falcons to salvage a bronze medal.

Also finishing at third place in their respective tournament were the Lady Tankers. They collected one gold, 11 silver and four bronze medals throughout the tourney, trailing just UP, who topped the field with a whopping 24 gold medals, and first runner-up CSB.

The Green Booters suffered the same fate as the Lady Spikers in the semifinals, losing 1-0 to eventual champion and host USLS after a late goal in extra time. Head coach Hans Smit’s squad kept a clean sheet and were undefeated throughout the elimination round until their streak was snapped by USLS. They were unable to recover and in the battle-for-third the following day, the Green Booters suffered another 1-0 loss to fellow UAAP member NU.

La Salle’s several podium finishes in this national competition further emphasize that the school has emerged as one of the top sports programs in the nation. While some of the teams that participated have already completed their UAAP Season 76 campaigns, several others will see action in the second half of the league. The experience gained by these teams in the UniGames will be invaluable as DLSU guns for more championships and hopefully, a second straight UAAP General Champiosnhip.