Winning championships didn’t come as a complete surprise for Foundation University beach volleyball coach Dwight Sun. In fact, he initially lost count of the times his athletes have made FU proud by winning the championship. “This is the seventh championship crown,” Sun said after jogging his memory.{{more}}
“I’m happy and proud of it,” Sun, principal of the West City Elementary School, “but this victory was expected. We were the Nestea beach volleyball champions for 2010. we were in second place in and also first place in 2008 and also during the fifth Nestea in 2005.”
This is the seventh time for FU to win the Unigames championship for beach volleyball, but only the second for beach volleyball athlete Buen Sayson and the third for Arnel Amadeo. “I’m happy that we regained our trophy that we lost last year to the University of Southern Philippines Foundation,” Sayson said. The USPF did not make it to the finals this time.
Arnel Amadeo, on the other hand, saw the beach volleyball victory as a final step toward his entry into the national beach volleyball team. After graduating with a business degree last month, Amadeo said he has been recruited for the Philippine team by the team coach last week.
The key to the FU victory is discipine. While training his athletes only on weekends, Coach Sun revealed his training techniques such as training his athletes at different times. “In beach volleyball, we don’t play on a fixed schedule. So I train them on a full stomach, I train them when they’re hungry, I train them under the hot sun and under the shade.”
Sun also ensures that his athletes, one of whom has graduated, will have a back-up. “We have first year students and I’m training them to become future champions.”
The FU women’s beach volleyball team, on the other hand, composed of Hannah Louis Ollina and Slamatu Yushawu, placed 3rd.
Teody Habalo, coach of the FU Sepak Takraw team, was happy for his team’s bronze medal. Composed of Jude Abequibel, Cliff Richard Anfone, Jundre Callao, Benjamin Chavez Jr., Andrew Gargaya, Brenn Jainar, Mikho Anthony Malto, Rainer Smith, Almerante Soledad Jr. and Joenero Tresquio, the FU Sepak Takraw team had also won bronze medals in previous Prisaa and Unigames matches.
In long jump, Jhundee Dosil, a first year college student, could have gotten the gold medal. But he committed a foul on the takeoff board after his shoes, which were two sizes bigger, got snagged. He fell short by .09 meters against the champion, who jumped 6.89 meters.
The volleyball indoor men’s team also won the silver medal. Playing for the Greyhounds were Kirby Aldeon, Ariel Amadeo, Arnel Amadeo, Jesser Carcusia, Mark Merwa, Viel Christopher Oniel, Buensuceso Sayson, Gold Segundino, Richard Tamayo, Jovit Tiongco, Glen Ventolero and Maximo Timoguing Jr.
Dr. Aparicio Mequi, director of FU’s Institute of Youth Sports for Peace, said FU placed 8th out of 47 schools.
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