Lariba, Valdez, Ravena honored in UAAP bash

MANILA, Philippines - The best and the brightest of UAAP Season 78, led by Rio-bound table tennis bet Ian Lariba of La Salle and popular Ateneo stars Alyssa Valdez and Kiefer Ravena, take the spotlight today in the league’s closing ceremonies at the University of the Philippines’ Ang Bahay ng Alumni.

Lariba, who anchored the Lady Archers’ title-retention bid, leads the MVPs of the 29 events to be feted in the rites commencing at 5 p.m.

From this honor roll, the UAAP chooses its Athlete of the Year awardee.

The 21-year-old Lariba looms as a heavy favorite for the top honors as she not only helped DLSU wrest the general championship but also made history as the first ever Filipino table tennis player to qualify for the Olympics.

Lariba shared the AoY plum last season with FEU chesser Janelle Mae Frayna and Ateneo swimmer Hannah Dato.

Student-athletes who excelled in academics, as well as those who carried the country’s colors in international competitions during the season that began Sept. 2015 and ended this month, also get their deserved recognition from the league.

UP Chancellor Michael Tan, the UAAP Season 78 president,  is likewise set to hand over the flag to Fr. Ermito de Sagun of University of Santo Tomas to signal the end of the 2015-16 calendar and start of the new season.

The UAAP Season 78 featured a lot of dramatic victories. DLSU won back the overall title after a strong second-semester showing capped by the Lady Spikers’ return to the throne at the expense of rival Ateneo. Far Eastern U also captured its first men’s basketball crown since 2005 with a well-followed triumph over the UST Tigers in the first sem while UP, dedicating its campaign to the late varsity player Rogie Maglinas, scored a twin-kill in football to cap hostilities.