THE UST Junior Tiger Judokas commenced their pursuit of another golden double by securing 12 medals in the boys’ and girls’ judo tournaments of UAAP Season 86 at the Marikina Sports Complex on Thursday, Nov. 30.
Reigning MVP John de Tomas stepped up a weight class and took home the gold in the boys’ half-heavyweight under-73 kg category, while his fellow Tiger Judoka Jeormil Caguicla settled for silver. They faced each other in the finals.
Julian de Castro reigned in the boys’ half-lightweight under-66 kg weight division after finishing Ateneo’s Joaquin Casimieo in the finals.
De Castro overcame Ateneo’s Pio Fernandez in the quarterfinals before toppling La Salle’s Mikee Trinidad to book a finals spot.
Siblings Cricien and John Gloria took home the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the boys’ featherweight under-55 kg category.
Justin Bagallon completed the day for UST after a bronze-medal finish in the boys’ extra-lightweight under- 60 kg weight category.
The UST Junior Tiger Judokas led the pack through Day 1 with 22 points, ahead of the University of the East with 16 points.
In girls’ play, the UST Junior Lady Judokas collected a league-high 26 points to open their title defense.
Margaret Fajardo reaped the gold medal in the girls’ heavyweight over-78 category after toppling fellow Tiger Judoka, Gabrielle Gambo, who notched silver.
It was another all-UST finals in the girls’ half-heavyweight under-78 kg weight division as Mariah Lua bested her teammate Grace Gangan, 2-1, to bag the gold medal.
Althea Lua and Jennelyn Tunacao settled for silver medals after faltering against UE’s Jamaica Trinos and La Salle’s Gabrielle Talaue, respectively, in the girls’ middleweight under-70 kg and half-middleweight under-63 kg categories.
The UST Junior Tiger Judokas will look to complete another golden double at the same venue today, Dec. 1, at 1:30 p.m.
