January 16 - 31 , 2018 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY 29
If one is to give Adamson women ’ s softball head coach Ana Santiago a nickname , “ Shortie ” would have fit her . For she is short at 5-feet flat with short pair of legs and arms .
But if one is to consider her performance as a mentor in both local and international arenas , “ Big Girl ” would be it . The late baseball / softball great Filomeno “ Boy ” Codinera , Santiago ’ s coach during her playing days , called her “ Quiapo Snatcher ” because of her speed and quickness in stealing the bases .
From the time Ana assumed the head coaching job from Codinera in 2004 , the Lady Falcons have racked up 12 UAAP championship victories , the most by any coach in any sport in the varsity league . Count a pair as Codinera ’ s understudy in 2001 and 2002 and her total championship winnings would be 14 .
And Ana stands to raise that amazing record to 15 when the Lady Falcons plunge into action anew in this year ’ s UAAP softball war which starts Thursday at the historic Rizal Memorial Ballpark
For her feats , Ana , the
Sports ’ FEATURE
Ana Santiago : PH softball ’ s winningest coach
youngest of the brood of six of the late Manolito and wife Shertita Santiago of Kawit town in Cavite , was elevated among the 80 athletes in other sports in the list of the Greatest UAAP products in commemoration of the 80th year anniversary the league among student athletes in the country ’ s top universities .
Ana extended her UAAP title victory run in the National Open Championship where she , too , emerged triumphant a least seven times for a total 21 career harvest and earning fir her the right to handle the Philippine Blu Girls several times in their quest fame and honor .
That gave Ana to strut her coaching brilliance to the global arena where she guided the Blu Girls to three title conquests in the Southeast Asian Games in as many times she handled the baton in the 2007 , 2011 and 2015 editions of the biennial Games where softball was played .
Two of Ana ’ s biggest victories the world level plays came in the 2012 Big League World Series for girls 16-8 softbelles of the Little League movement and the 2017 Under 18 World Series of the Pony ( Protect Our Nation ’ s Youth ) Baseball / Softball program .
Ana , likewise , had three bronze medal finishes in the Big-League World Series before the Little League did away with the division .
She also handled the Blu Girls in one Asian Games and one Asian c h a m p i o n s h i p where he Philippines ended up fourth in both .
Besides handling the Adamson women ’ s softball team to more than a dozen UAAP softball diadems , Ana steered , too , the Lady Falcons to a league record 73-straight game triumph .
The pride of Kawit attributes her coaching success to long-time guru Codinera . “ In fact , all of Adamson ’ successes in softball woukd nohave been possible if not for coach Boy . “
“ We owe every fruit we ’ re reaping in the sport of softball to coach Boy . Siya
WWW . PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY . COM
The Adamson U Lady Falcons with then wheelchair-bound former coach Filomeno ” Boy ” Codinera after completing a 2016 UAAP softball six-peat .
PBA commish longs for the days of the Big J
Marcial wants to bring back fans like those in the PBA ’ s golden days
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday expressed his goal to draw back fans into the games , similar to the time when spectators descend in droves to watch now basketball legends Robert Jaworski and Alvin Patrimonio .
The 56-year-old Marcial , who started his career in the PBA in the early 80s as a game statistician , saw Jaworski and Patrimonio during their prime and witnessed how they were adored by their respective supporters .
“ Ako , ang gusto ko mapalapit ang PBA players at Gilas Pilipinas players sa fans ,” Marcial said yesterday at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association ( PSA ) Forum at the Tapa King in Farmer ’ s Center in Cubao .
“ Doon nabubuhay ang liga eh . Paano sumikat si Alvin and si Senator Jaworski ? Sa fans … kahit 10 p . m . na , hanggat may nagpapapirma ang nagpapakuha , andyan sila ,” Marcial added .
Marcial said the only way to achieve that is for the players to be more engaging with their fans .
“ Kinakausap naman natin yung mga players , sinasabihan natin sila ,” said Marcial , who likewise hopes to improve the officiating and continue the socalled healing process among members of the board .
The league under Marcial has already started a program called ‘ PBA Homecourt ’ where players conduct basketball clinics and the league gives a particular community basketball equipment .
Another plan that is still in discussion is for teams to wear retro jerseys that the Commissioner ’ s Office will provide . The worn game jersey will be signed by players and will be auctioned , with proceeds going to charity .
“ Madami tayong plano , pero pinag-uusapan pa lahat . Meron din tayong 3-on-3 na pinag-uusapan ; tignan natin ,” added Marcial , who was appointed officer in charge after Com-
Adamson University
missoner Chito Narvasa stepped down at the end of last season .
As OIC at the start of the year , Marcial worked for 30 days before the board , chaired by TNT KaTropa ’ s Ricky Vargas , appointed him as full-pledged commissioner , the 10th since the time of founding Commissioner Leo Prieto in 1975 .
Marcial didn ’ t say who but he let on that one of his close friends had advised him to accept the job .
“ Nag-consult ako sa mga kaibigan natin , mga malapit sa akin . May isang nagsabi sa ’; kin na kunin mo na baka ikaw ang puwedeng magpasama-sama uli sa board , yun pumasok sa isipan ko . Don ako nag-decide na kung iaalok sa akin , kukunin ko ,” said Marcial , who nonetheless retained his erstwhile position as media bureau chief .
On Sunday , Marcial already implemented a way for fans to further understand PBA rules by letting technical director Eric Castro speak during the postgame interview and explain the technicalities involved during the
endgame confusion that marred the San Miguel-Barangay Ginebra Philippine Cup encounter . “ Basta may controversial
By : Julian Ray Fortaleza
Answers from last week ’ s issue
1 . UFC 219 had a main event of Cyborg Santos vs Holly Holm 2 . Ali was promoted by Bob Arum 3 . Pacquiao won his first belt at 20 years old
New Questions
ang nagturo sa aming lahat na maglaro . Disiplinado ag istrikto si coach Boy . Hindi madamot magturo ng lahat ng nalalaman niya sa paglalaro at maging sa coaching ,” Ana asserted .
“ Kaya naman napakarami niyang naging produkto maging sa baseball man . Magaling siya sa lahag ng aspeto ng larong baseball at softball maging sa technicality . Walang nangunguna sa kanya ,” she said .
Ana said she and the Lady Falcons dedicated their last season ’ s seven-peat victory to Codinera who passed away October last year . “ Pagkapanalo naming ng sevenpeat , dinalaw namin siya sa bahay niya at inihandog namin ang championship trophy sa kanya . Tuwang-tuwa siya . A few months after , he left us .”
She said the Adamson fathers agreed to lay Codinera ’ remains at the St . Vincent de Pau Columbarium inside the Adamson Church .
“ We also decided to dedicate ours campaign this year to him so he can guide us in our bid for an eight-peat , “ she said I reference to the UAAP softball tournament which starts Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark .
call na technicality at hindi judgment call , papupuntahin ko si Eric to explain everything ,” Marcial said . ( W . Galvez , mb . com )
1 . Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic will headline what ppv ? 2 . What numbers did Pavel Bure wear as a Canuck ? 3 . Who is the best fighter in the UFC flyweight division ?