After four long years, the De La Salle University Green Jins finally bring the UAAP Poomsae Championship to Taft Avenue.
The six-strong De La Salle University Poomsae team were able to edge out rivals University of Santo Tomas Tiger Jins and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to become this season’s champions, Friday afternoon at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
“Four long years! Finally we made it. That’s why I dress like this, it’s good luck,” DLSU head coach JP Sabido quipped.
Having only six jins, three male and three female, in the lineup did not elude Sabido and the Green Jins from their goal of winning this year’s event that kicked-off this season’s Taekwondo Championships.
“If I were to describe it, we are more united this time because we are just a small group. We are only six players,” said Sabido, who is a mainstay in the National Team.
“Well, in the very beginning we always had a problem with the number of players. We are very fortunate this season that we were able to get good players.”
Rinna Babanto opened La Salle’s medal haul by winning the gold in the women’s individual with a score of 8.43 by defeating Far Eastern University’s Charisse Jasmin (8.06) and University of the Philippines’ Patricia Jubelag (7.96).
The Green Jins’ other gold came from the mixed pair of Raphael Mella and Angelica Gaw with a score of 8.66, beating the Fighting Maroons’ Dustin Mella and Janna Oliva (8.59) and the Growling Tigers’ Jerel Dalida and Jocel Lyn Ninobla (8.53) in the process.
Babanto, Gaw, and team captain Kristi Hernandez captured the silver medal for De La Salle in the women’s team event with a score of 8.54, while Mella, Mcavyngr Alob, and Benjamin Sembrano also bagged the silver in the men’s team male category with a score of 8.41.
Alob gave the Green Jins their lone bronze in the men’s individual with a score of 8.27.
“Also, most of the players came from the World Championships so mainit pa. They are in the peak of their competitions,” Sabido shared.
UST emerged victorious in the men’s individual courtesy of Rodolfo Reyes (8.58) and the men’s team of Reyes, Dalida and Adrian Ang (8.64), while the women’s team of Ninobla, Jhoana Razon, and Cyrinne Abenir (8.44) secured the school’s other bronze medal.
Jeanisse Jubelag, Janna Oliva, and Aina Callos powered UP to its lone gold in the women’s team event (8.60). The Maroons other silver came from Dustin Mella in the men’s individual (8.46), while the men’s team of Lyon Llanto, Juanito Sandoy and Jayboy Buenavista (8.34) was the school’s other bronze medalist.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s very nice to finish my season na champion kami,” added La Salle skipper Hernandez, who is in her final playing year. “Thank God na for the first time, nakuha na namin yung goal namin, which is the championship.”
UAAP Season 79 Poomsae Championship Medal Tally
Gold – DLSU (2-2-1)
Silver – UST (2-0-2)
Bronze – UP (1-2-2)
Fourth – FEU (0-1-0)
