THE UST Junior Tiger Judokas clinched their seventh consecutive title in the UAAP Season 86 boys’ judo tournament held at the Marikina Sports Complex on Friday, Dec. 1.
UST became the first team in UAAP boys’ judo history to have reached 7-peat. The Junior Tiger Judokas had eight titles in total.
Junior Tiger Judoka Zeus Babanto stepped up a weight class and grabbed gold in the boys’ half-middleweight under-81 kg weight after overpowering La Salle’s Elijah Manuel in the final. UST’s Earl Bay also captured bronze in the same weight class.
Jeordan Caguicla retained his boys’ middleweight under-90 kg crown after sweeping his four matches, including a duel against his fellow Junior Tiger Judoka, Paolo Olquino, who finished third.
Benedict Plata settled for silver in the boys’ half-heavyweight under-100 kg category, while Dennis Selmo notched bronze in the same class.
Alden Salandanan also bagged the bronze medal in the boys’ heavyweight over-100 kg weight division.
John de Tomas was once again hailed the boy’s judo MVP after a dominant run in the lightweight under-73 kg weight division.
The Junior Tiger Judokas capped their dominant Season 86 run with 43 points on a 4-3-6 gold-silver-bronze medal haul.
Meanwhile, the Junior Lady Judokas failed to complete another UST golden double after crumbling on the last day of the tournament.
Oonah Benavidez failed to defend his girls’ lightweight under-57 kg crown after succumbing to UE’s Jhen Obeja.
Armilene Cortez bagged silver in the girls’ featherweight under-44 kg category after finishing with three wins in four matches.
Ianna Caviteno bagged bronze in the girls’ extra-lightweight under-48 kg weight division.
The UST Junior Lady Judokas hauled two gold, six silver and one bronze to amass 33 points, just six points behind UE’s 39 points. De La Salle Santiago Zobel School had 13 points for the bronze-medal finish.
