The spotlight has always been on DLSU teams that have gained a reputation for their intense training in preparation for the UAAP, especially the Men’s basketball and Women’s volleyball team.
The big B and V, however, have always overshadowed DLSU’s other sports clubs; these teams have been spreading the Animo spirit, continuously keeping the sport that they love by representing the Green-and-White.
The LaSallian hence presents the following teams that may not have donned their jackets in the UAAP, but have nevertheless shined in their own fields.
Frisbee
The Frisbee team is one of DLSU’s most unpolished diamonds. While many were busy watching balls dribbled and served, this team almost brought home the bacon, placing second in the recently concluded National Ultimate Collegiate Championship (NUCC).
Team captain Emerson Ang shares that the NUCC, formerly called UFC, is an inter-collegiate Ultimate Disk competition.
The team, comprised of old and new members and a few alumni, had just joined a year ago; they placed fourth last year.
Emerson shared that the team started from humble beginnings. Ang, along with the help of the alumni, started a team by utilizing his networks and connections. But the team’s problems are still not over, as despite their recent accomplishment in the NUCC, the team continues to face problems such as the absence of a playing field.
Emerson hopes to join the next NUCC to continue his team’s bid for the championship win; he is currently looking to recruit more interested players. With this in mind, we could expect this commendable group to make noise in the next NUCC.
Dragonboat
You may have seen this team’s story on a couple of late night programs. Some shows have presented their outstanding achievements, while others tackled the support and publicity problems this team encountered. There is, however, one thing we cannot deny: the Dragonboat Team reigns supreme.
Last year, the DLSU Dragonboat Team bagged yet again another set of awards and championships from local and international tournaments. The team dominated in the country, winning three championships— the Annual La Laguna Festival Dragon Boat Race Mixed Category, the 1st Zambales Dragon Boat Festival, and the Annual Dragon Boat Championships 2011 Mixed Category.
Moreover, the team has also won an international race championship at the 32nd Penang International Dragon Boat Festival in the Men’s Open 250m & 500m category held in TelukBahang Dam, Penang, Malaysia. They also won first place in the 2011 Shanghai International Chinese Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament 500m Mixed Category; the team brought home gold in the Mixed 500m Champions and silver in the Mixed 200m category.
Speed, synchronization, discipline, and passion for the sport are the DLSU Dragon Boat team’s secret to their success. All summer long, the team endured long distance trainings, team building activities and many more to prepare them for this year’s challenges.
“After these tournaments, win or lose, we will not settle down and be satisfied in what we have achieved, because there will always be room for improvement,” shared DLSU Dragonboat Team President Ian Jose.
As another school year starts, the team is looking for recruits, ideally a full-boat team composed of 20 people, though Jose expressed that the team will really need more help from recruits in the near future.
The DLSU Dragon Boat team have not taken their eyes off the prize.
“Part of our long term goals is to be able to bring glory to our alma mater, De La Salle University, and to remain humble, and practice our La Sallian values in every race, and outside this sport,” Jose concludes.
Brazilian JiuJitsu
The DLSU Community has been exposed to few sports that are not part of the UAAP, but little do people know that some sports are slowly unleashing their prowess inside campus grounds, amidst the overcrowding shadows of fellow diversions. One of these is Brazilian JiuJitsu (BJJ).
Though this team has rarely seen the limelight, this squad has been performing and even winning in many occasions; the squad recently brought the green banner to the 2012 Pan Asian International JiuJitsu Championships last May 12-13.
The team had bagged two silver medals, and two bronze medals in the Gi (BJJ uniform) category of the said competition. Brown belter Andrew Laxa and white belter Gian Saquilon won silver, while JR Rulloda and Russell Santos got the bronze.
Meanwhile, in the No Gi category, two Lasallians got gold in their own divisions. Saquilon broke gold in the rooster weight under 55 kg, while Luigi Jacinto topped in the heavy weight at over 97.3 kg.
Most think that JiuJitsu is a dangerous sport. The head instructor of the DLSU Brazilian JiuJitsu team JR Rulloda, however, disagrees. He said that there is a positive side to the sport.
“JiuJitsu’s benefits include physical fitness, self and mental awareness, and it also helps boost self esteem. However like any other sport, the athlete is exposed to certain risks like sprains, muscle fatigue and other sports injuries. But through proper guidance and careful observation these risks are greatly minimized,” Rulloda shared.
