De La Salle University completed a dominant 5-0 sweep of the UAAP Season 87 collegiate taekwondo tournament, dethroning defending champion National University and overcoming powerhouse University of Santo Tomas at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday.
The Green Jins delivered a season-defining 4-3 victory against the Bulldogs, handing NU its first loss and setting the tone for the rest of the day.
They followed it up with a commanding 6-1 triumph over the Tiger Jins, showcasing their depth and resilience.
Key to La Salle’s success were Johnson Lloyd Rosario, Rommel Ulat, Andre Gacilos, and Einz Aricayos, who all secured crucial wins against NU.
Their efforts propelled the team past its toughest hurdle of the tournament.
In between their victories over NU and UST, the Green Jins also edged out the University of the Philippines, 4-3, solidifying their unbeaten record.
With the sweep, De La Salle secured its ninth men’s taekwondo title overall and its first since 2013. The team’s coronation is set for Thursday.
For NU, reigning men’s MVP Nusair Lao, Melbourne Lustado, Kenneth Buenavides, and Sturdy Jay Gilbuena fought valiantly but were unable to prevent the loss to La Salle.
The Bulldogs managed to bounce back later in the day with a 6-1 victory over Far Eastern University, improving their record to 3-1 heading into the final day.
Meanwhile, UST sits in third place with a 2-1 record and can clinch second place by defeating NU and Ateneo in its remaining matches on Thursday.
UST Women on Brink of ‘Three-peat’
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the women’s division, University of Santo Tomas, led by last season’s MVP Laizel Abucay, moved one step closer to a third consecutive championship.
The Tiger Jins outclassed Ateneo, 6-1, and eked out a hard-fought 4-3 win over De La Salle to remain undefeated at 4-0.
With a victory against the Lady Bulldogs on Thursday, UST will secure its 14th women’s title overall.
NU’s women’s team also had a strong showing, extending its unbeaten run to 3-0 with decisive wins over De La Salle (6-1) and Ateneo (7-0). They will face UP and UST in their final matches on Thursday.
De La Salle’s Lady Green Jins notched a 7-0 victory over Ateneo, ensuring a podium finish with their 3-2 record. Ateneo ended its campaign at 2-3, settling for fourth place.
UST, NUNS Face Off for High School Title
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the high school division, UST and NU-Nazareth School set up a championship showdown after both teams narrowly defeated FEU-Diliman, 3-2.
UST and NUNS also cruised past Ateneo, with UST prevailing 5-0, to remain tied at 3-0.
De La Salle-Zobel recorded a 3-2 victory over Ateneo, tying FEU-Diliman at 1-2. The two squads will battle for third place on Thursday.
With the stage set for an exciting final day, Thursday promises to crown champions in all divisions of the UAAP Season 87 taekwondo tournament. (TJ)
