Nov. 20 2016, 9:57 p.m. – THE UST Tiger Judokas took home back-to-back UAAP titles in both seniors and juniors division Sunday at the De La Salle Santiago Zobel Sports Pavilion in Alabang.
The Lady Judokas bagged their third consecutive title while the Male Judokas reclaimed the crown they lost last year to the Ateneo de Manila University. Meanwhile, UST’s boys’ and girls’ team won their second consecutive title.
The last time UST senior and junior teams won all four judo titles in a season was in 2012.
UST’s women’s team finished Season 79 with one gold, three silver and a bronze medal for a 4-6-2 gold-silver-bronze aggregate. The Male Judokas capped the final day of tournament with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal for a 4-1-3 medal haul.
The Male Judokas scored 49 points to dethrone Ateneo, which had 36 markers. The Female Judokas finished with 74 points while the University of the East came in at second with 23 points.
“Tulong-tulong sila [sa pag-build ng lead]. Lahat ng pagbawas ng timbang, late nights na pag-uwi namin. Kaya sabi ko [sa kanila], worth it ang lahat ng paghihirap. Hindi lang women’s, pati men’s and juniors,” said Lady Judokas head coach Gerard Arce, who also stirred UST into three straight championships in 2012.
Eunice Lucero (-63 kg) sneaked an ippon late in her match against University of the East’s Patricia Rosario to grab the Lady Judokas’ lone gold medal in Day 2.
Ana Bernardino (-78 kg,) Renielyn Castillo (+78 kg) and Aislinn Yap (-70 kg) all faltered in their gold-medal matches to settle for silver. Jamaica Ponciano (-78) then survived a grueling five-minute bout to win the bronze medal.
Senior Sueko Kinjho, who started her UAAP campaign with a Rookie of the Year award, will end her career as MVP.
In men’s play, Daryl Mercado (-55kg), who was named tournament MVP, downed fellow Thomasian Russel Lorenzo for the gold medal while Male Judokas team captain Al Llamas (-66 kg) submitted De La Salle University’s Adrian Perillo via armbar also for the gold.
“Hindi ko inisip na individual yung MVP ko, para sa akin lahat kami, MVP,” Mercado told the Varsitarian, “Ang MVP makukuha mo yan, pinipili lang ng tao yan. Pero ang championship, para sakin, yun ang MVP ng buong team.”
Czar Bayas (-66 kg) submitted DLSU’s Edward Borja through a deep rear naked choke to snatch away the bronze for the Male Judokas.
The boys’ team garnered 43 points behind MVP Aaron Reyes to edge Zobel’s 39 points. The girl’s team, meanwhile, swept the competition with 65 points as Iza Amazola took home MVP honors. Ralph Edwin U. Villanueva
