Tiger kick: UST jin Avenido is UAAP’s top athlete

Taekwondo jin Marlon Avenido, a prized recruit from Basilan, capped the total domination of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigers in the 72nd UAAP wars by bagging the seniors division Athlete of the Year plum. Avenido, who spearheaded the Tigers to their third straight men’s taekwondo diadem, beat out his fellow MVPs from the other sports for the most coveted individual award.

“Hindi ko po ini-expect talaga na ako yung mapipili bilang Athlete of the Year kasi tingin ko po mas marami pa namang mas deserving kesa sa akin," said the UST Behavioral Science junior who’s in his second year with the taekwondo team of coach Dindo Simpao. “Sobrang saya ko po and at the same time, kinakabahan din dahil sa malaking karangalan na ito na ibinigay sa akin ng UAAP board," he added. Avenido was also recognized for his stellar performances while representing the Philippines internationally. He copped the gold in the Southeast Asian Taekwondo Championships, collared the silver in the 25th SEA Games and the Asian Martial Arts Games and reached the quarterfinals of the World Taekwondo Championship and KTA Open Taekwondo Championship. Avenido’s long-term mission is to make it to the Olympics someday. "I've always wanted to be a part of the national team and play for our country, to play in the Olympics. It's a dream, that's why I came to Manila," said Avenido, a product of the Claret School of Lamitan. Tiger Cub makes waves Sharing the limelight with the bemedalled jin was another UST ace, swimmer Gian Daniel Berino, who was adjudged juniors division Athlete of the Year. “All I dream of is to be the best swimmer that I could be. This award is a bonus for me," said Berino, the boys’ swimming MVP. Avenido and Berino are among the athletes perennial UAAP general champion UST nurtured and developed, according to UST Athletic Director Fr. Ermito de Sagon “They were unnamed and raw talents when we got them in our fold and now they are reaping the fruits of their perseverance and dedication to their sport and to our school," said de Sagon who received the seniors and juniors general championship trophies for UST together with co-UAAP board Felicitas Francisco. UST made Season 72 “The Year of the Tiger" as its seniors bets snared the UAAP general championship for the 12th straight year and hiked their overall tally to a league-best 37. The Tiger Cubs also dominated their side of the UAAP wars, bagging their 12th overall title. - GMANews.TV