Sept. 27, 2014, 11:05 p.m. – THE UST Judokas got an eight-medal haul at the opening of the UAAP
Season 77 Judo tournament Saturday at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.
Although gold still remained elusive
for UST, the Tiger Judokas brought home three silver and five bronze medals, a
big improvement from last year’s performance.
Randolph Dalupri (-90 kg), Joaquin
Miciano (-100 kg) and Mae Bayas (-52 kg) delivered the goods for the Tiger
Judokas, each bagging silver medals.
Dalupiri bowed to University of the
Philippines’ Patrick Lledo with 3:49 remaining, while Miciano gave UP’s Christian
Bautista all he could. But Miciano committed three shido (penalty) compared
with Bautista’s two, costing him the match.
Meanwhile, Bayas kept Ateneo’s Maria
Moran at bay for 4:34 minutes until she was taken down for an ippon (whole
point) and settled for second place.
In other matches, Lady Judokas Tracy
Honorio slammed University of the East’s Karlein Padua for an ippon in their
under 52 kg match to pick up a bronze, while UST’s Lorelei Tolentino (-57 kg)
and Sueko Kinjho (-48 kg) both defeated their opponents with a wazari
(half-point) for bronze medals as well.
Tiger Judoka Renzo Cazenas edged De La
Salle University’s Ivan Oleta with a last-minute yuko (1/8 point) in their
under 90 kg bout, while UST’s Kazuki Masaoka toppled Brian Azarcon of UP with a
wazari for another pair of bronze medals.
“Nag-improve sila from last year,
in terms of strength and endurance. Last year, ‘yung first day namin, zero
[medals], ngayon may medal na,” Judokas co-head coach Steve Esteban said.
In juniors’ action, UST found its way
to second place with one gold, four silver and two bronze medals, behind
defending champion Ateneo.
Gabriel Ligero won the lone gold medal
for the junior Judokas, while Justin Magat, Joseph Maprangala and Joshua Tan
snatched silver medals. David dela Cruz and Ravi de Leon took home bronze
medals for UST.
The UST Judokas will try to
solidify their hopes of returning to the podium tomorrow, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. at
the same venue. Delfin Ray M. Dioquino
