THE UST Tiger Jins secured their third consecutive title while the Lady Jins landed on second place for the second straight year in the UAAP Season 79 taekwondo tournament at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle gym Tuesday.
UST capped its season with a 5-1 record in the men’s division while the Lady Jins, which finished with a 4-2 card, fell behind the unbeaten National University.
Today marked UST’s 14th championship in the men’s division, the most in UAAP history. The Lady Jins remain the winningest team in the league with 10 titles.
The Tiger Jins prevailed over University of the East, 4-3, and the University of the Philippines, 6-1.
With the Tiger Jins tied 3-all with UE, Aries Capispisan delivered a resounding 4-0 win in the clincher to topple Red Warrior John Michael Agno.
Capispisan took home the Most Valuable Player honors and UST’s lone gold medal.
“Sobrang dami pang kailangan (improvement) kasi ‘yung MVP award bonus na lang. Ang in-aim talaga namin ay ‘yung championship talaga. Nag-payoff hardwork namin [kaya] sobrang thankful kami,” the newly crowned MVP said.
Juan Carlos Miguel (finweight) and Juan Miguel Ramos (featherweight) notched silver medals while Gian Rubio (lightweight) pocketed a bronze.
In women’s play, the Lady Jins walloped defending champions University of the East, 6-1, and nipped De La Salle University, 4-3.
UST led 3-2 against the Lady Archers before Marjelle Sy sealed the win after a 12-8 beating of Paola Amon.
Sy (welterweight), Jamaica de Guzman (finweight), Colleen Heria (flyweight) and Charm Ragutana (middle/heavyweight) secured four silver medals while team captain Nicole Cham nabbed a bronze.
“Mapa-pride ‘yung mga player natin and they really wanted to keep it that way. We really wanted to get all the championship sana but they (Lady Jins) fell short. But still we are happy that they performed their best, especially the women’s team,” assistant coach Jasmine Simpao said.
