ATHLETICS

The Ultimate Experience: A Long Way
Mr. Enzo Flojo, HS-CMSO Formation Staff and Xavier Ultimate Player 

Photos courtesy of Shana Watts and Paolo Abrihan

Posted Thursday, 05-Oct-2006 12:09 PM

      Last Saturday, September 23, 2006 , the Xavier Ultimate (XU) team – the first-ever Ultimate Frisbee team of Xavier School – trooped to the University of the Philippines Sunken Garden for another raucous day of disc action.

      Three games against tough teams were lined up for XU that morning, and going into the matches they held a respectable 2-win and 3-loss record. Fresh from a lay-off the past weekend because of a collegiate entrance test, the students were visibly raring to play and hoping to win.

Stamping Their Class

      The first match was scheduled to start bright and early at 8:10am, against a veteran team based in San Lorenzo Village – TODA 2. It was a team composed of veteran frisbee weekend warriors bannered by an imposing foreigner (read: tall and fierce-looking) and some seasoned players. Surely this would be a true test of XU’s grit and determination.

      Surprisingly enough, the younger and much inexperienced XU players showed the needed poise in the early going, racking up 6 goals in the 1st half against just one by the opponents. They took advantage of key lapses in TODA 2’s attack patterns and capitalized with some exciting defensive plays spearheaded by Sam Go (H4D), Bam Santos (H4D) and Kaiser Sy (H4C). The second half though would prove to be more competitive as the veteran players of TODA 2 played with desperation. Utilizing their height advantage to the hilt, they scored 7 goals in the 2 nd half to cut the deficit, 10-8.

      It was crunch time now and XU needed another score to cap the game and their 3rd win. Fortunately enough, the dynamic duo of Perkin Chai (’05) and Agu Veloso (’06) conspired to puncture the TODA 2 defense and eventually gain the final point en route to an 11-8 victory. Kudos also goes to the superb back-up efforts of BJ Kua (H4B), Dennis Tan (H4G), Robbie Dela Cruz (HS Science) and Steph Syling (ICA ’06). Clearly, this game showcased XU’s potential to close out even the most seasoned of frisbee squads.

Sister Schools’ Showdown

      The second game for the day proved to be more interesting as XU went up against the frisbee team from Ateneo High – Huck You. Aside from this notable slant to the game though, what was more exciting was seeing the two youngest teams square off on the field. Measured against almost any other team in their division, XU would arguably be faster and more athletic, but that would hardly be the case against Huck You.

      From the get-go, it had the makings of a down-the-wire affair. Neither team would give an inch as the teams battled each other on even ground. Every goal from XU would be answered by Huck You and vice versa. The games’ pace was blistering and the teams’ defenses were airtight. The first half ended with XU up by the slimmest of margins at 5-4, thanks to the exploits of Perkin and the spitfire rookie Andrew Chan (H4A).

      As entertaining as the first half was though, the second half would prove to be more nerve-wracking, albeit a tad controversial. After scoring two more goals to up their lead at 7-5, XU gave up three straight goals and found themselves staring at an 7-8 deficit going into the waning moments. In the very next play, however, Perkin tossed a beautiful backhand goal throw to a streaking Andrew, tying the game. Or so we thought, because right after the goal reception Loveranes of Huck You called Perkin for traveling. The call was contested, but after haggling for a few minutes Huck You was given possession of the disc.

      Although things looked bleak for XU, they played great defense in the following play and converted a goal to tie the game at 8-all. Since there was barely any time left, this next sequence would decide the winner – the Universal Point. Bucking injuries to some of their players, Huck You tried hard to score, but XU’s determined stalwarts managed to force a turnover and had a chance to seal their 4th victory.

      The Universal Point would indeed materialize as Perkin composed himself on a sizzling play that saw the disc fly half the length of the field into the waiting arms of Andrew, who was at the endzone – final score 9-8 in favor of XU. In this nip-&-tuck affair, XU simply willed themselves to win.

Lessons

      The third and last game of the day would be an hour later and against another veteran-laden squad – Breakfast Club (BC). Interestingly enough, this team featured several XS alumni (Chris Ng, Oliver Co and Garrick Yao – all of batch 2004) along with a handful of foreigners. Toting only a single win against 6 losses, it seemed highly unlikely that BC would end XU’s winning run.

      Since they finished a game right before this one, BC started out flat and was left biting the dust of XU’s younger pugs. With Paolo Abrihan’s (H4C) two early gems, along with inspired defensive efforts from XU’s lovely ladies, Ick Yao, Karen Choachuy, Shanna Watts, Aimee Apolinario (HS AP-Academics) and Joney Pusta ( HS-Guidance), Coach Mendoza’s wards led 6-3 at lemontime.

      As the second half opened, fresh legs were fielded by XU who were still inspired by the team’s performance in the first half. However, the game suddenly became a picture of frustration for XU as BC turned the tables on the upstart Xaverians. After getting precious minutes of rest, the pink-clad BC handlers repeatedly hammered the porous XU defense and took the lead at 7-6.

      The atmosphere turned from jubilation to trepidation as BC continued its methodical onslaught of XU. Zeke Yap (H4A) was on the receiving end of two goal throws as XU mounted a last-ditch comeback effort, down one point at 9-8. BC’s toughened players would prove to be steadier in the end, however, as they closed out the game 11-8. It was a tough loss for XU, which needed the win to even have a ghost of a chance to take one of the top two slots in the division, but each defeat comes with its lessons. This would be about humility and unity.

The Long Way

      The morning ended with heavy rains and XU leveling its slate at 4-wins and 4-losses overall. They won twice and lost once that day, but more importantly they exhibited their coming of age, showing grace in victory and magnanimity in defeat.

      After the Huck You game, one of the tournament organizers approached the team and said, “You guys have come a long way.”

      A long way indeed.

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