There’s no more fitting way for Far Eastern University (FEU) to honor past and present Tamaraw greats than opening their own Sports Hall of Fame Room.
“We are happy to launch – finally – this Sports Hall of Fame room as a tribute to all our past and present FEU athletes,” said Board of Trustees member Anton Montinola, who’s long been a key figure in the school’s athletics program.
Athletic director Mark Molina led Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, together with FEU President Michael Alba, Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs Atty. Gianna R. Montinola, and Alumni Relations Office Director Celmer Santos.
The school’s Sports Hall of Fame has actually been in existence since 2008, but it is only now they have made a shrine to commemorate the athletes. And Molina only has immense gratitude to Atty. Montinola for making it possible.
“The Hall of Fame of FEU, we inducted people I think back in 2008, but we never had a physical place to honor the athletes.
“But Atty. Gianna, the last couple of years, really went out her way to find a spot in the campus that is deserving of all of the awards and accolades that the sports program has achieved through the years,” he added.
The Sports Hall of Fame Room is located on the first floor of the Admissions Building.
The wall outside features photos of each member, while various trophies and memorabilia of achievements can be seen inside.
“You will see in this room our vast collection of trophies, from many, many, many, years in different sports – both team trophies and memorabilia of our excellent alumni athletes,” said Montinola, who’s also a part of UAAP BMD.
Over 40 Tamaraws have been inducted thus far. Basketball great Arwind Santos and contemporary Denok Miranda, together with long-time volleyball star Rachel Anne Daquis, spearheaded the class of 2018.
Former Olympian Marestella Torres-Sunang, chess grandmasters Jayson Gonzales and Janelle Mae Frayna, and decorated tracksters Jesson Cid and Christopher Ulboc, Jr. were also part of that batch.
Except for Ulboc and Torres-Sunang, all members of the 2018 inductees were present in the virtual event held via Zoom.
Also in attendance were multi-titled basketball bench tactician Arturo ‘Turo’ Valenzona, cage luminary Johnny Abarrientos, player-turned-coach Glenn Capacio, and four-time UAAP badminton MVP Lloyd Escoses.
Three of the four Fortaleza Bros., namely Rogelio, Ricardo, and Reynaldo, were there as well. Along with Renato, they were part of the Philippine boxing team in the 70s and bagged numerous medals in global meets.
“We have produced Olympians; champions in all levels of international sports; as well as, of course, in the UAAP where many of our teams have achieved records that have not been approached even by other schools,” Montinola said.
Other legends that are in the Hall are Olympic medalists Anthony and Jose Villanueva; track icons Elma Muros-Posadas and Lydia De Vega-Mercado; tennis great Felicisimo Ampon; and swim queen Haydee Coloso-Espino.
“You can see that from all these examples of FEU stars past and present, we have been consistently successful in so many sports,” said Montinola.
“And so, this Sports Hall of Fame Room will be our permanent venue to honor and remember all the FEU athletes who have brought great honor to our university.”
