THE UST Tiger Judokas reigned anew in the UAAP Season 81 judo tournament, bagging the women’s, men’s and boys’ division crowns at the De La Salle University Sports Complex last Dec. 8 to 9.
The Lady Judokas notched their fifth-straight title with 36 points, including a 1-8-5 gold-silver-bronze medal haul. The University of the Philippines (UP) came in at second place with 25 markers.
With the championship, UST became the first team in UAAP judo history to win five-consecutive titles in the women’s division.
Season 81 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Khrizzie Pabulayan (-52 kg) bagged the Lady Judokas’ lone gold medal of the tournament.
Team captain Kimberly Pantoja (-48 kg), Season 80 MVP Almira Ruiz (-57 kg), Rhodesa Bayas (-52 kg), Miam Salvador (-44 kg), Althana Caranto (-63 kg), Bernadette Carpio (-70 kg), Jamaika Ponciano (-78 kg) and Risa de la Cruz (+78 kg) all took home silver medals.
Devrah Devaras (-57 kg), Princess Aguilar (-44 kg), Shalimar Masong (-70 kg), Krisha Rotairo (-78 kg) and April Lua (+78 kg) pocketed bronze for UST.
“I told the team na tulong-tulong lang sa points, lahat kaiangan mag-contribute kasi ang motto namin ay we play as a team, we fight as a team and we win as a team tsaka pressured kami dahil history ang maka-five-peat,” Lady Judokas head coach Gerard Arce told the Varsitarian.
The Lady Judokas are on track for a sixth-straight crown, but they would have to do it without key players Ruiz, Ponciano, Bayas and Pantoja.
“We are aiming for six-peat next year but syempre hindi maiiwasang may aalis na players pero may mga new players namang papasok and expected namin ‘yong all-star cast next season dahil may mga aakyat na juniors sa seniors’ team,” Arce said.
In men’s action, the Male Judokas bagged their third-straight championship with a 5-2-4 medal tally for 45 points. Rival Ateneo de Manila University and UP settled for silver with identical 18 markers.
Season 81 MVP Dither Tablan (+100 kg), George Kim (-100 kg), Mitchel Salcedo (-90 kg), Russel Lorenzo (-60 kg), and Season 81 Rookie of the Year Ryan Benavides (-66 kg) led the charge for UST with gold medals.
Thomas Huckstep (-66 kg) and Czar Bayas (-73 kg) notched silver while team captain Niko Ong (-73 kg), Randolph Dalupiri (-90 kg), Luis San Diego (-81 kg) and Shergeon de Rosa (-55 kg) reaped bronze.
“Ito ang pinakamalakas na performance ng team. Lahat nag-contribute and they gave everything I asked for. We were more driven and motivated compared last year,” Male Judokas head coach Steve Esteban said.
Ong and San Diego will no longer see action for the Male Judokas in Season 82 after completing their playing years.
The Lady and Male Judokas remained the winningest teams in UAAP judo history with 11 and 13 championships, respectively.
In the junior’s play, the UST boys’ team emerged as champions for the fourth-straight year while the girls’ team settled for second place anew.
