Members of the UST Lady Judokas reinforced the Philippine team in the 2024 Korea Open Sambo Championships held from Oct. 11 to 14 in Cheon-An, bagging four gold, one silver, and one bronze medal.
Jeniva Consigna snagged gold in the women’s 65-kilogram sports sambo, while Mariah Lua ruled the women’s 72-kilogram event.
In the same tournament, former Lady Judokas Sydney Sy-Tancontian and Aislinn Yap topped the women’s 80-kilogram sambo event and women’s 80-kilogram combat sambo event, respectively, to collect the country’s third and fourth gold medals.
Grace Gangan added a silver medal to the haul after her performance in the women’s 80-kilogram sambo.
Aumaegel Princess Cortez won bronze in the women’s 59-kilogram event.
Lady Judokas head coach Gerard Arce, who also coaches the Philippines’s sambo national team, said the tournament provided the players with the opportunity to assess their performance and preparation.
“Gine-gauge pa namin ‘yong capacity nila dito, and gusto namin makita kung effective ba ‘yong mga techniques nila,” Arce told the Varsitarian. “Pero masaya kami na meron agad results kahit parang preparation pa lang namin ‘to.”
Arce said the Lady Judokas held back to avoid potential injuries and scouting ahead of the UAAP season.
“Hindi namin masyado binubuhos yung laro. Kumbaga sa 100%, siguro naka 40% lang sila,’ he said. “Nag-iingat din kami, unang-una sa injury, pangalawa, para hindi rin ma-check. Nag-scout panigurado ang mga kalaban.”
In total, the Philippine team took home six golds, two silvers, and two bronze medals in the Korean tilt.
In UAAP Season 86, the Lady Judokas finished in silver, behind only the three-time champion UE Lady Warriors.
As of writing, the UAAP has yet to release the schedule of games for the Season 87 judo tournament. Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon with reports from Bjorn Del B. Deade
