Cebu booters Orale and Jubac, spiker Abellana set to join UST

CEBU, Philippines —  The University of Sto. Tomas has been in the news lately for its aggressive recruitment drive for basketball talent outside Manila, but has also been active in football and volleyball.

Going to UST for their college studies and to play football are Carlos Miguel Orale of Don Bosco Technical College Cebu and Churchill John Jubac of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

Meanwhile, Pierre Angeli Abellana of the University of San Carlos is joining the UST women’ volleyball team.

Orale, son of Central Visayas Football Association president Rodney Orale, is a lanky defensive midfielder for the Glen Ramos-coached Greywolves that won the CESAFI high school football championship in 2019.

Ramos says that Orale excels in ball distribution and winning ball opportunities. He added that Orale is smart, versatile and hard-working.

Jubac is known as a tough defender for the Baby Jaguars of USJ-R. He had spent his early football years at Don Bosco, was on the CVIRAA squad that won the silver medal at the 2019 Palarong Pambansa, and was part of Philippine Under 19 training pool last year.

CVFA Vice President Nimrod Quiñones said that Cebu’s grassroots program has regularly produced football players for Manila. The list includes SHS-Ateneo graduates Leo Maquiling (Ateneo de Manila men’s football) and Yoojin Kim (UP women’s football team).

“The CVFA is proud to see the products of our youth program move to a bigger playing field in Manila. We wish these young players all the best and hope to see them further develop their skills as players. Our president Rodney Orale is doubly happy as both head of the FA and father of one of the players with this development,” Quiñones.

In volleyball, UST coach Kung Fu Reyes brought in USC’s top gun Abellana to strengthen his team with young talents.

Abellana, the daughter of ex-UV Lancer and one-time commercial league basketball player Ope Abellana, couldn’t help express her excitement on joining UST.

“I feel excited and challenged at the same time because to become a part of this great team means playing with some of the best athletes in the UAAP. College life will surely be challenging so I am determined to commit to my responsibilities as a student-athlete while making the most out of my collegiate years,” she said.

 Abellana, a six-year member of the USC girls volleyball team, was the second best outside spiker of the 2019 Rebisco Volleyball League Central Visayas Regional Finals, and was part of the CVIRAA team to the most recent Palarong Pambansa.

With UST’s basketball program under fire for a variety of reasons, this comes as a breath of fresh air and good news.