UAAP 75 Recap: A breakthrough season

As UAAP Season 76 manifests itself this coming June 29 with the theme “Greatness Never Ends”, De La Salle University will take on the league for the very first time as the defending general champions.

DLSU will enter the UAAP season ready to defend its first ever general championship gold medal against top contenders such as the dethroned 14-peat champions, the University of Santo Tomas, and their other rivals from Ateneo de Manila University and Far Eastern University to name a few.

Last season was a breakthrough year and a testament to the collective efforts of the Office of Sports Development (OSD). Looking back at the season that La Salle had in UAAP 75, one can conclude that it was nothing short of amazing.

The Gold Standard

Whereas DLSU’s male varsities failed to succeed in clinching a single gold medal, the female athletes exceeded all expectations by marking five gold medals to lead the ousting of UST’s 14 year reign as general champions.

The Lady Jins and Lady Paddlers, who played in the first half of the season, kicked off the start of UAAP 75 by clinching gold against UST and UP, respectively, in the finals.

On the other hand, pioneering their championship 3-peat against the Ateneo Lady Blue Eagles, the Lady Spikers spiked their way to attain the coveted crown.

Backing up the final push in the league were the Lady Woodpushers and the Lady Tennisters, who topped UP and UST in their respective playing fields to clinch their championships.

Championship surge

Despite the lack of championships in their own playing grounds, the DLSU male athletes still managed to draw the leverage needed to support the Green and White cause towards the overall triumph of La Salle. The Green Tankers, Green Paddlers and Green Jins conducted a striving effort to end with the second prize of their respective tourneys.

To cap it off, seven other DLSU teams, in the form of the Green Spikers, Green Woodpushers, Green Tennisters, Green Shuttlers, Green Tracksters, Green Fencers, and Green Judokas landed at third place and settled with a bronze medal.

The other ladies of DLSU reinforced the five gold medals earned by the other female teams with high rankings of their own. The Lady Archers and Lady Strikers both garnered the silver medal after falling short of the championship crown, while teams such as the Lady Spikers in Beach Volleyball, Lady Tankers, Lady Shuttlers, and Lady Fencers produced bronze medals for the Green and White cause.

The 21 medals delivered by the DLSU teams plus the contributed effort of the other athletes all came together and resulted in the Lasallian teams winning their first ever general championship trophy in the UAAP.

Title defense begins

There will be more battle to come and there is much waiting this season as De La Salle University enters UAAP 76 with the trophy in their clutches for the first time. All eyes will be on the Green and White and they will play against opponents raring for action as the entire community watches to support them.

Teams have already been training rigorously for months with the hopes of making big contributions in La Salle’s bid to win a second straight general championship.

UAAP Season 76 kicks off with its first half sporting events this June 29 at SM Mall of Asia Arena with Adamson University as its host and Fr. Maximo D. Rendon C. M. as the league’s President.