Bago City native, UST’s new track and field bet

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’ track and field team boosts its roster ahead of its UAAP title defense by securing the commitments of five Negrense athletes led by Maryland Torres.

The Bago City, Negros Occidental native told the Buzzer Beater she feels pressured playing for the reigning UAAP athletics champions where she will be one of the bets for discus throw and shot put.

“Masaya ako to play for UST since this school has one of the best programs when it comes to track and field,” said Torres, a gold medal winner in discus throw and silver medallist in shot put in the recent 2018 Philippine National Games.

“May halong pressure lang din since they are the defending champions (in UAAP) so I will just do my best to help the team continue their winning tradition,” added the Negrense thrower.

Torres also said UST track and field coach Jose Ming Lao spotted her when she was still in fourth year high school in Bago City but she chose to move to Manila for college.

“Fourth year high school ako nung nakita ako ni coach Ming pero tinapos ko muna ‘yung high school ko bago ako pumunta sa UST since I have to prepare myself din dahil malalayo ako sa pamilya ko. But now I am ready,” she said.

Aside from Torres, other Negrense track and field players who have joined her at UST are Keirve Abelo, Angel Lecaniel, Jessa Mae Jarder, and John Boy Purisima.

The five are just the latest Western Visayas-based tracksters that have committed to UST after the school previously acquired Ilongga Elvy Villagoniza (long jump and triple jump) and Antiquena Pamela Marquillero (hurdles).

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Another Filipino fighter will have a chance to become a world champion. The International Boxing Federation (IBF) mandated Randy Petalcorin to face Nicaragua’s Felix Alvarado for the vacant IBF world light flyweight belt.

The order came after South African boxer Hekkie Budler decided to relinquish the IBF championship he won via a unanimous win over Japan’s Ryoichi Taguchi last May 20 in Ota-City Gymnasium in Japan.

With Budler’s decision to let go of the crown and if negotiations pull through, Petalcorin and Alvarado will contend for the title being the two highest-ranked fighters in the division.

Alvarado, 29, (33W-2L, 29KOs) is rated No. 1 in the division while the 26-year-old Petalcorin (29W-2L-1D, 22KOs) is ranked third. The number two spot in the division is vacant.

“I will be ready for this fight. I know Alvarado is a big puncher but I am ready for any challenge in my bid to become a world champion again,” Petalcorin told the Buzzer Beater.

Sanman Promotions CEO Jim Claude Manangquil said he will be working with Petalcorin’s co-manager Peter Maniatis in the negotiations to realize what could be a gigantic showdown.

“This is the opportunity that Randy Petalcorin has been waiting for a long time. We will do our best to give the Philippines another world title,” said Manangquil./PN

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