Bilog ang Bola

This may be the most overused cliché, but this boring and severely damaged line has summed-up the result of this years’ Sports Festival of STI College Naga. Individuals and teams who were never considered as favorites to win in any of the Major Events surprised everyone with their painstaking preparations, excellent performances and remarkable executions. In a dramatic twist of fate, last year’s cellar dweller, the Orange Cyclones leaped above gigantic hurdles and went home with numerous awards including the Over-All-Champion Trophy.


In Basketball, one of the four events under the Major Category, the Green Invaders was the highly touted team to snatch their first back-to-back title having retained the services of their team Captain, Lowell Palmiano and majority of their team members who were part of their 2009 Championship run. However, during the Men’s Volleyball games, Palmiano twisted his ankle and was put on the injured list. The Green Invaders seized the Men’s Volley Title against the Orange Cyclones but the injury of Palmiano put their basketball title bid on a halt.


The Orange Cyclones had a formidable Volleyball Team both for the Men’s and Women’s Division. Their Men’s Volley team was augmented by quality rookies from this year’s Annual Rookie Draft having to pick second behind Black Stigma. Their Women’s Volley Team was the defending champion and the entry of their coach, Fritz Nuyles, a veteran volleyball player in her prime, added further value to their Volleyball chances. However, the team fell short of defending the title against the Red Phoenix who owned the first pick in the draft and used it to acquire eventual Women’s Volley Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Naiza Marie Rathle. The Cyclone were also defeated in the final match by the Green Invaders who used their vast experiences against the rookie-laden volley team of the Cyclones.


The Cheer Dance Competition is the last part of the Major Events. This is one of the most hotly-contested events wherein teams spent countless hours of late night practices. Each team having the same goal in mind, be the best Cheer Dance Squad of the year. Black Stigma and Green Invaders are the top 2 Cheer Dance Squads based on last years’ competition. This year, these two teams are once again heavily favored as title contenders. But working in silence and behind their backs is the Orange Cyclones who are much determined to claim the prize. Due to technicalities in their actual performance, the Green Invaders were deducted 5 points from their actual score when their routine surpassed the 5-minute maximum timeline set forth by the OrgCom. As a result, their total Cheer Dance Score of 88.1% was lowered down to 83.1. Orange Cyclones finished their number within the allowed timeframe, thus, their total score of 87% remained unscratched and this propelled them to the Cheer Dance Crown. Finishing second is the Black Stigma with 85.6% followed by the third placer, Green Invaders.


Apart from the teams who excelled this year, there are numerous individual performers who took center stage and claimed what is rightfully theirs in the Minor Events. Leading the individual awardees this year for Women’s Volley are Cyclones’ Sarina Solo, Charie Elenia; Phoenix’s Claire Negro, Phoebe Kim Lawag,, Kesia Agacan and Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Naiza Marie Rathle. Cyclones’ Francis Villamora, Adrian Benitez; Invaders’ Mark Peralta, Rahf Rodriguez, Jerick Bersola and Most Valuable Player Edgar Delmiguez comprised the Mythical Team for Men’s Volley. Thunders’ Daryll Pandes; Cyclones’ Francis Villamora; Vipers’ Albert Arcega; Stigma’s Vince Gabuyo and Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Randy Canciller rounded up the Basketball Mythical Team Selection.

Photos taken from May Geronimo’s FB Page