UST ramping up UAAP title bid

After its once-mighty basketball team hooked up with a corporate sponsorship, University of Santo Tomas could have its other sports in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines supported by private companies.

During a press conference at the memorandum of agreement signing involving the UST men's and boys' basketball teams, Cocolife and Drivers United for Mass Progress Partylist, UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics director Rev. Fr. Rodel V. Cansancio, O.P. said other sports can also benefit from the tieup.

The current partnership between UST, Cocolife and DUMPER is set to last for the entirety of UAAP Season 86.

"It is one of the many handshakes Cocolife and UST will do. Expect we will see each other for another partnership for another sports program," Cansancio said.

While men's basketball, women's volleyball and cheer dancing are the usual attractions every school vies for, UST takes pride in claiming the general championship, competing in all 14 sports per season. 

In the UAAP, each championship would amount to 15 points, second place with 12 points and 10 points for third-placers, eight points for fourth place, six points to the fifth place, four points to the sixth place, two points to seventh place and one point to eighth place.

Since introducing the overall crown in 1948, the Tigers have won the most number of overall titles in the senior division with 46 championships with Season 85 being its latest win.

Championships in men's and women's beach volleyball, women's taekwondo, men's judo, men's tennis, men's table tennis, men's chess, women's athletics, and women's 3×3 basketball gave the Tigers its sixth consecutive UAAP general title.

Cansancio said this partnership between Cocolife could only get better in the years to come.

"We know this partnership with Cocolife will go a long way so we want to thank them on behalf of the Thomasian community," Cansancio said.