REIGNING UAAP athletics champion University of Santo Tomas loaded up its women’s track and field team by securing the commitment of two standouts from Iloilo City.
Elvy Villagoniza of Iloilo National High School and Pamela Marquillero of Iloilo Sun Yat Sen High School will reinforce Golden Tigresses in its UAAP Season 81 campaign.
Villagoniza will play in long jump and triple jump while Marquillero will be a new player in hurdles.
“Matagal na akong nire-recruit ni (UST assistant coach) Ming (Liu) at pupunta na ako doon by first week of May,” Villagoniza told Panay News. “I am excited and tensed din going there.”
“UST ang defending champions (sa UAAP) kaya malaking pressure ito but I will do my best para makatulong sa team,” added Villagoniza, a gold medalist in Palarong Pambansa and Milo Olympics, and a silver and bronze winner in Batang Pinoy.
For her part, Marquillero said she did not think twice after Liu approached her during the ASEAN School Games last year in Singapore.
“Of course, being recruited by UST is such a great honor. I just hope I can meet their expectations,” said Marquillero, a gold winner in the 2017 Palaro in San Jose, Antique.
Golden Tigresses is the four-time defending champion in UAAP athletics. In Season 80, Louielyn Pamatias, a native of Bago City, Negros Occidental, spearheaded UST’s campaign./PN
