University of the East pulled off its second consecutive UAAP women’s judo tiara with a close 37-34 finish against University of Santo Tomas, Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Lady Red Judokas captured the school’s first title in the season.
Coach Rodimple Rodriguez was happy to see UE back in the throne despite all the adversities during the hiatus. “Actually, overwhelming yung pakiramdam, since nanggaling nga sa pandemic. Feeling naman gahol talaga yung preparation kasi nag-start kami mag-training mga second week ng August,” said Rodriguez.
“Pero nag-step up naman yung mga players at nakuha namin yung back-to-back championship,” the youthful head coach continued.
Remianne Pangilinan paced the strong defense of the Lady Red Warriors with the gold in the middleweight (under-70 kg) despite the gallant stand from the Female Tiger Judokas’ heavyweights.
Pangilinan dominated the said weight class, including a rousing win against UST’s Casey Tolosa in the final that turned out to be the difference as the Tigers carved two titles in the day. Bronze medals went the way of Jeanmae Lobo of UST and Andrea Villena of DLSU in the category.
UST made the last push with Levie Espuerta and Sydney Sy taking the golds in the half-middleweight (under-63 kg) and in the heavyweight (over-78 kg) weight classes, respectively, but that was not enough to outpace UE.
Espuerta took down UE’s Veneza Dayao in the final, while Sy dominated UP’s Jubelle Vergara in their own gold medal matches. UST’s Krizza Amisola and UE’s Aescie Ramos shared the third-place podium in the half-middleweight, while UST’s Kathleen Ferriols and UP’s Stephanie Fetalver completed that of the heavyweight.
Pag-ibig De Villa took the other gold of the day, winning the half-heavyweight (under-78 kg) class over UE’s Nicole Habierto. UE’s Dianne Aquino and UST’s Lea Quimba collected the bronzes in the division.
UAAP Season 81 and 82 back-to-back Most Valuable Player in the girls’ division Joemari-Heart Rafael continued her streak and was adjudged as both the Rookie of the Year and the top athlete in the women’s division for the season.
