Philippines, 13 Jan 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Adamson U's Lady Falcons only needed a 2nd inning, two homerun salvo in gifting Coach Ana Santiago 10-peat UAAP Softball title conquest


PhilBoxing.com





Nobody has been able to figure out why Ana Santiago is a softball coach except she’s good at it. Coach Ana, as her Lady Falcons and fans call her, is a very modest woman, grateful to call the shots from the Adamson bench in lieu of the retired great softball/baseball legend Filomeno "Boy" Codinera.

When action in the UAAP Softball Championship was suspended following the Covid 19 pandemic in 2019, coach Ana had already gifted her alma mater nine consecutive titles.

Last Saturday, ending the resumption of plays in this 85 UAAP Season, Santiago prolonged her streak to 10, the longest by any coach in any sport in the varsity league.

How the pint-sized Santiago has done this, rival coaches, players, who crossed her path in that span as well as fans, know best.

“Her long years of serving as assistant mentor then as head tactician made coach Ana what she is now,” the now UP’s head of human kinetics Francisco “Kiko” Diaz attested following Adamson’s triumph in Game 1 of the Lady Falcons’ best-of-three gold medal series two Saturdays ago.

“Coach Ana’s stint as understudy of coach Boy, earlier in her career taught her a lot now in being a cunning and astute mentor. She, surely, has inherited lahat ng trick na naituro sa kanya ni coach Boy.”

Losing tactician Ronilon Pagkaliwagan, the only Filipino hurler to pitch a perfect no-hit, no-run. no-error game in the world championship, for his part, commented that Santiago’s years of experience coaching the Philippine Blu Girls and Senior League teams in the Asia-Pacific regional meets as well as the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games "made her unbeatable in escaping from very close situations and win games."

Coach Ana, once again, showed these traits in the title-clinching Game 2 of the first-to-win-two series with UP three days ago. Seeing half of her batting order shutout by eventual losing pitcher Kacelyin Valino right at the upper half of the first inning, the country’s winning guru talked to her next batters and said: saying:

“Okay, nakita na ninyo, nilamon ang ating magagaling na mamamalo. Siyempre, nakakakaba yan. Hindi ako hihingi sa inyong malakas na palo. Ang gusto ko lang maka-connect kayo at sikaping makatuntong ng base.

"Bahala na yung mga susunod sa inyo na ihatid kayo sa home plate. Kayang-kaya nilang magawa at malimit na nating nagawa yun in the past," she reminded them.

Coach Ana then guided designated player Jeelin Pajotal, fourth in the offensive rotation assigned to bat for eventual winning pitcher Glory Alonzo, but couldn't do any damage, flying out to left for the first out.

Came next Santiago's waiting moment when Jennete Rusia, playing right and homerun queen the last time softball was played in 2019, who slammed a solo homer, sending the ball soaring over to left field fence any of UP outfielders couldn’t possibly retrieve.

Not to be outdone, and taking the cue from Rusia’s heroic, center field girl Alaiza Talisik, ninth and last in the Lady Falcons’ batting order, belted out another solo shot to the same spot where Rusia sent hers as the 10-peater Adamson took what turned out an unreachable 2-0 lead.

Even as Valino forced the next Lady Falcons batters in that crucial moment and the two protagonists exchanged five unproductive offensive chances from third to seventh frames.

After which, Santiago and the Lady Falcons officially glued themselves at the throne they first put themselves in 10 Seasons ago.

“Sa mga ganoong kasikip na situwasyon kasi, kailangan mabilis kang mag-isip ng remedy kung paano mo malulusutan," coach Ana said in trying to explain how she did it by way of paying tribute to her former maestro.

"Salamat kay coach Boy, naituro niya lahat sa akin mga yun,” Santiago reminisced after her victory.

Alonzo, in emerging winner in her sixth of her eight starts, earned for her the accolades Best Pitcher of the tournament and Finals MVP, leading two other Lady Falcons – Ma. Angelu Gabriel, Most Homeruns, and Madelaene Dumaog, Most Stolen Bases.

Other individual awardees as best performers are UP’S Nickole dela Cruz, Tournament MVP, Best Slugger, Best Hitter and Most RBIs; and Ateneo’s Genesis Degolacion, Rookie of the Year.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • The Past Week in Action 12 January 2025: Jai Opetaia Stops David Nyika to Retain IBF Cruiser Title
    By Eric Armit, , Mon, 13 Jan 2025
  • Filipino Remark Bartolome wins The Rooky Monthly Standard FIDE Rated chess tournament in Thailand
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 13 Jan 2025
  • Kevin Arquero wins Pozorrubio rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 12 Jan 2025
  • Kingsley Ibeh wins 10th straight, Austin Brooks defends WBA title
    , Sun, 12 Jan 2025
  • Villacastin to fight Marcos in RFL Kickboxing
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 12 Jan 2025
  • Boxer Eumir Marcial Faces Cheating, Abuse Allegations from Estranged Wife
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 12 Jan 2025
  • Sans Curry and Green, Warriors Bow to Pacers; Boston, New York Lose to Western Foes at Home
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 11 Jan 2025
  • INDIAN OLYMPIAN NISHANT DEV PENS DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND DEBUTS IN LAS VEGAS
    , Sat, 11 Jan 2025
  • Registration opens for IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2025 in Niš
    , Sat, 11 Jan 2025
  • DYBL to revive league on Jan. 25
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 11 Jan 2025
  • SPORTS RECORDS 8: BERNARD HOPKINS JR., THE OLDEST CHAMPION IN ANY WEIGHT DIVISION
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Sat, 11 Jan 2025
  • BISUTTI VS NATTAPONG READY FOR BATTLE FOR IBF ASIA HEAVYWEIGHT BELT IN THAILAND
    , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • ASA-PHIL Clinic Featuring International Coaches Ignites New Era for Softball in the Philippines
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • RFL Kickboxing Series starts on Jan. 19 at Diho 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • Pinays cited for wrong reasons
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • Weights from Emerald Queen Casino In Tacoma, Washington
    , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • February 14: Heavyweight Contender Jared Anderson Added to Denys Berinchyk-Keyshawn Davis Undercard at The Theater at Madison Square Garden
    , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • Former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov Returns to Make Sampson Boxing Promotional Debut Against Justin Pauldo
    , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • THE BIGGEST IRISH BOXING CARD IN NEW YORK CITY HISTORY!
    , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • Best of the East Meets Tops of the West; Offense Versus Defense, Cavs Prevail
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • World Super Flyweight Contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez preparing for Career-defining 2025
    , Fri, 10 Jan 2025
  • Sharks Billiards Association second season kicks off last week of January
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 09 Jan 2025
  • Jr. Tennis Tour & Satellite Circuit kicks off Jan. 16
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 09 Jan 2025
  • Lofranco faces Refugio for WBA Asia title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Jan 2025
  • Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Ambassador Nino Alcantara Embarks on a Promising International Tennis Journey
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Jan 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.