my thoughts…exactly!

Last August 6, 2006, we all witnessed the bitter fall of the UST Tigers against the Ateneo Blue Eagles. It was so devastating because UST lost more than 30 points. That game, Ateneo scored a high lead of 44 points against UST.

Since the UAAP games began, no other team had beaten Ateneo…and in the last few games of UST, the Tiger’s top scorers either got sick or were injured. (Jemal is still injured, Jojo Duncil and Japs Cuan got sick due to Typhoid Fever and now Espiritu is sick due to the same disease). And until before this game, Ateneo have a standing of 8 wins and 0 losses. Having said that, I guess the Blue Eagles grew complacent. When they won their 6^th game (or was it their 7^th?), one team member of Ateneo gave a comment that this season’s UAAP is not challenging enough coz they have no opponent. (How airy can you get?!) Ang yabang ng Ateneo kasi nawala yung mas mayabang sa kanila…DLSU hehe.

Karma hit them! Karma hit them real bad! UST, for the second year in a row, broke their straight win record. Now they have 8 wins and 1 loss. I’m sure at the start of the game they were looking forward to a 9-0 streak. Sayang diba? Kung naging humble lang

sana

sila eh di mas pinagpapala sila ni Lord. Well, sabi nga nila, “Kung sino ang proud ay binababa ng Diyos and kung sino ang humble ay shang Kanyang itinataas.”

What went right?

I’d say, this time, the Tigers learned their lesson well.

1. Everyone stepped up – When Jojo and Jemal were playing, everyone depended on them to do the work for the team. This time, they know they have to work twice as hard because they are losing an average of what, 31 points per game due to the absence of Duncil?

2. They controlled the game – The first encounter between the two, Ateneo pretty much controlled the game with their speed and fast break advantage and everytime, UST would give a foul count that accumulated their opponent’s lead to a high 44 points. This time they controlled the pace. Cuan would set-up a play and it was a defensive play for them. Hindi sila pwede makipag-sabayan sa bilis ng Ateneo. Ababou made lots of rebounds and “palpal”, Allera scored lots of needed 3 points, this rookie Jervy did great inside the paint and unexpectedly Allan Evangelista contributed 30 points. I couldn’t remember the rest but it was a TEAM EFFORT. A very good one.

3. Complacency killed the eagles – enough said.

In November 22, 2002, my in-law’s house in Malate got burned down. That unfortunate day, I did not use my engagement ring (gold eternity ring) coz well,it didn’t match with my outfit (stupid, huh?)…needless to say, it was left to melt with the other metals in my jewelry box (got mixed with white gold, tri-color gold and silver). We were able to unearth it but, as I’ve mentioned, other metals melted with it. Ergo, that was it. Goodbye my eternity ring.

I asked my officemate Alice if there’s a chance to revive this precious piece of jewelry and she said she’ll have to consult with her ex-bf who owns this jewelry shop somewhere in Binondo. I was not that optimistic coz to me well it looks pretty nasty already. Anyway, I thought it’s worth trying coz I’ve got nothin’ to lose…but the thing was, I couldn’t find it. I seem to have lost it! I just couldn’t find it anywhere. I looked everywhere. Gone. I already gave up looking for it and justified that since it melted anyway I have to accept that it’s lost forever. Then one day while organizing my closet…Eureka! It’s alive! Hehe. I found it! Now the only thing left to wonder is if it will be revived after all.

For the longest time that I gave it to Alice, she wasn’t able to do her part. Can’t blame her coz it was a favor. Actually, it was a big favor coz she just broke up with this guy and we all know how hard it is to renew ties with an ex, right? So anyway, as I’ve said, I already accepted the fate of this ring so I haven’t given it much thought. No pressures.

To cut the long story, last Wednesday, August 9, 2006, after 4 long years, I was reunited with my engagement ring! Yepyep, the very eternity ring that my hubby gave me! I couldn’t believe it! It’s finally with me again and it never looked this pretty!

When I got home, I showed it to hubby and the look on his face was just priceless. Then once again, he placed the ring on my finger and told me the exact line he said when he gave it to me…that his love for me is "eternal." (kinda like the ring…gets?) *wink*

————————–

*other pieces of jewelry revived: cross pendant and half bangle bracelet with charms

Last Sunday, August 6, 2006, I watched the UAAP at Araneta with my sister Imee (who  happens to be a junior at UST), her schoolmate Paula, my Kuya Jonas (UE-UST alumnus) and my Ate Flor. First game was between UE and UP…of course we cheered for UE. It was worth it coz UE won. We were all ecstatic! Kuya was even featured on TV cheering for his alma mater. The sad part was after the second game (UST vs. Ateneo)…I can’t recall the exact number but I think we lost more than 30pts that horrible day. Sometimes you just can’t help but think about the "glory days" of USTe…I was in 3rd yr college (1993) when that championship drought finally ended…that lasted until 1996. The last championship UST had prior to 1993 was I think in the 60’s…I’m not sure what year but my mom was in UST Pre-med that time. The 1993-96 team was led by Dennis Espino, Chris Cantonjos, Dale Singson, Bal David, Edmund Reyes, Patrick Fran, Rey Evangelista, and Udoy Belmonte (who I became friends with coz we have a common friend). The coach was the ever strict but reliable Aric Del Rosario. During that time, Thomasians filled up 3/4 of Araneta almost every USTe game…louder cheers, higher spirits and the "never say die" attitude…not only of the players but of the supporters as well. We couldn’t care less that we were teased by DLSU that "allowance nyo, barya ko" or whatever insults they threw at us. We couldn’t care less that it took us sooo long to end the championship drought…we were hungry for the title…we yearned for it. We trusted that the team can pull it off, they trusted themselves that they can beat the others…we were that confident! The passion to win was there. In one of Aric Del Rosario’s interviews he mentioned "pag may hindi nagseseryoso sa practice, pinauuwi ko." It sounds funny knowing how grumpy he is but come to think of it, he has a point. It would really become your habit not to take the actual game seriously if that is how you are in practice.

I just hope the current "tigers" would be motivated enough to end the 10 year drought…come on, I’m sure in ‘93 the tigers didn’t think it can be done…but they did it. I am confident that UST would soon emerge the champion of the UAAP again. My message: Trust and Pray. God bless you guys and…GO USTe!

—————————————–

"Everyone came to win the championship…but the team who desires it the most would most likely get it."

(see pictures in the album)

Have you ever been in a situation wherein you’re too complacent…not naman conceited, just complacent…that look just fine (with or without make-up) ergo there is no need for you to "fix" yourself?

One time at the gym, my friend Ken told me, "Alam mo lately mukha kang haggard." I told him, "sige na, it’s ok, diretsohin mo nako, ang panget panget ko ngayon, tama?" Then all of our friends were laughing. Sabi nya "Hindi naman pero dati kasi whenever I see you parang hinahangin yung buhok mo tapos may mga stars saka kwitis sa likod mo" HAHAHA. Funny ng description nya. So I asked him "eh ngayon ano na lang, moon?" He said, "hindi, spotlight na lang…nasa likod mo pa." Natawa na lang kami ng other friends namin.

So anyway, after that, I am now concious to make that "extra effort" to look great ALWAYS. No more complacent girl. Mashado kasing tiwala sa sarili eh, tapos magtataka bakit ang panget ko sa pictures…yan tuloy hindi ma-post sa friendster. HAHA.

Wala lang, yun lang. (=’o'=)