ATHLETES and coaches from Adamson University made their marks in the recent Singapore 28th Southeast Asian Games with softball making the most impact for the school with the gold-medal conquests of the Blu Boys and Blu Girls.
Adamson men’s coach Orlando Binarao highlighted the Blu Boys’ undefeated campaign as he belted a home run in the third inning to power the Filipinos past Indonesia, 6-4, in the title match.
The Blu Girls, coached by Lady Falcons’ mentor Ana Santiago capped their conquest with a 3-0 shutout of Thailand in the finals.
The women’s team is composed mostly of players who currently play or are alumnae of Adamson’s softball program, including two-time UAAP MVP Annalie Benjamen, Luzviminda Embudo, Rizza Bernardino, Lorna Adorable, Florabele Pabiana, Queenie Sabobo, Angeline Ursabia and Elma Parohinog.
In shooting, Jayson Valdez, a BS Customs Administration sophomore, clinched a bronze medal in the men’s individual 10-meter air rifle event.
Long time team captain and former UAAP women’s basketball MVP Merenciana Arayi was one of three former Lady Falcons selected by head coach Patrick Aquino for the women’s basketball team called Perlas Pilipinas.
Former two-time UAAP MVP Annalyn Almazan and Fria Bernando were also part of the lineup that also included national team mainstays Allana Lim, Camille Sambile and newcomers Alfril Bernardino and Shelley Gupilan.
In their domination of eventual gold medalist Malaysia, 74-63, in the prelimaries, Arayi contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds while Almazan chipped in six points, eight rebounds and dished out two assists.
The Filipinos, however, missed the podium to Thailand, which bagged the bronze medal by virtue of the winner over the other rule. The Thais beat the Filipinos, 61-56, in the preliminaries.
The Philippines bagged 29 gold, 39 silver and 66 bronze medals in Singapore for sixth place. Thailand was overall champion anew with a 95-83-69 gold-silver-bronze tally.