Coca-Cola has been invited to sponsor the annual competition.
Students from five other schools, including Ateneo, La Salle and University of the Philippines, comprise the other five.
The Thomasian quintet are Dexter Matilla, Alder Almo, Teodoro Lorenzo Fernandez, Christian Bautista and Patrick Leonard Mayo.
Joining the UST bets are Christopher Rainier Chua of La Salle, Ronald Gabura of UP-Diliman, Rian Jay Hernandez of Ateneo, Mark Kerwin Garcia of Manila Central University and Julius Roman of Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
The panel of judges was made up of Francis Ochoa of Today, Nelson Beltran of Philippine STAR, Tito Talao of Tempo and Dodo Catacutan of Manila Bulletin.
The 10 stories will undergo another round of review, with STAR assistant sports editor Gerry Carpio, Today sports editor Edwin Gabutina, Tempo associate sports editor Rey Bancod, and Bulletin assistant sports editor Willie Caballes picking the top three placers.
Plaques and cash prizes await the top choices, while the rest of the 10 finalists will get modest gifts.