Five-peat seeking University of Santo Tomas held strong to the lead in the men’s division after the first day of the UAAP Season 85 Collegiate Judo Championships Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Tiger Judokas amassed 25 points paced by three golds to lead the four-team field, nine points against Season 82 runner-up University of the Philippines’ 16.
“Para sa ‘kin, OK naman po performance ng team. Sa heavyweights po nakuha namin yung mostly gold and silver,” senior and middleweight (under-90 kg.) gold medalist Aaron Reyes shared.
Reyes had to deal with a cut on his eyebrow after getting an accidental headbutt from UP’s Karl Tenorio in their quarterfinal match. The graduating Tiger Judoka eventually won the match and the consequent contests, including the quick final against Arhann Rodil of Ateneo de Manila University to bag the gold.
“Yung sa ‘kin naman, sa performance ko, binuhos ko talaga lahat kasi last playing year ko na. Para sa ‘kin kahit anong mangyari basta manalo,” Reyes said.
De La Salle University’s Malanos and Fighting Maroon Mark Perocho completed the middleweight podium.
Chino Sy dominated the half-heavyweight (under-100 kg.) class, finishing off with a swift work of UP’s Carlos Sandoval in the gold medal match. Laurence Sy of UP won over DLSU’s Ethan in the pool phase to get the first bronze, but Quach still got the other against UST’s Lorenzo Tolentino.
Rookie Rael Abujos kept the heavyweight (over-100 kg.) title in UST after taking down teammate and Season 82 silver medalist Tristan Reyes in the final. UP’s Zarchie Garay and Ateneo’s Yvan Ayalin rounded the event’s podium.
Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Jayvee Ferrer closed a rousing showing with a quick contest against teammate Ollzhen Dionisio, bagging the half-middleweight title (under-81 kg). Junel Porlaje of UST and John Hernandez of DLSU outworked their respective sparring partners to collect the bronzes.
