Nov. 19 2016, 9:05 p.m. – THE UST Tiger Judokas brought home 10 medals to start their campaign for the UAAP Season 79 judo tournament at the De La Salle Santiago-Zobel Sports Pavilion Saturday.
Back-to-back champions Lady Judokas bagged three gold, three silver medals, and a bronze to take first place. The Male Judokas are ranked second with two gold medals and a bronze.
UST leads the women’s division with 47 points, 30 points ahead of second-seeded De La Salle University. The Male Judokas are a point behind top-seeded University of the Philippines’ 23 points.
“Tiwala lang sa team, sila naman ang gumawa nun, trabaho nila yun kaya deserving na sa kanila na mapunta [‘yung gold medals] kasi pinaghirapan nila,” Lady Judokas head coach Gerard Arce said, “[Pero kahit] malaki ang lamang namin, hindi pwedeng magpakakampante.”
Reigning MVP Khrizzie Pabulayan (-48 kg) and reigning Rookie of the Year Miam Salvador (-44 kg) scored consecutive wins over fellow Thomasians Mae Bayas and Alexis Belen, respectively, as UST took home two gold and two silver medals easily.
Sueko Kinjho (-52 kg) then dominated La Salle’s Charmea Quelino to win the Lady Judokas’ third gold medal of the day.
Lorrelei Tolentino (-57 kg) added a silver to the Lady Judokas’ medal haul while Tracy Jean Honorio won UST’s lone bronze.
In men’s play, Luis San Diego (-81 kg) edged out UP’s Josh Colet through a grapple to win UST’s first gold medal. Diether Tablan (+100 kg) then squeaked out a Yuko (1/8 point) against Ateneo De Manila University’s Rafael Cadiente in the golden score round to score another gold.
Renzo Cazeñas (-81 kg) toppled UP’s Gabriel Avendano for the Male Judokas’ lone bronze.
Judo action continues tomorrow, Nov. 20, 9 a.m., at the same venue. Ralph Edwin U. Villanueva
