University of the East and University of Santo Tomas took the lead in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively, of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Judo Championships on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
Fifth-year senior Leah Jhane Lopez led the reigning three-peat champions, the UE Lady Warriors, to a seven-point advantage, 22-15, over the UST Lady Judokas.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, Chino Sy and the Tiger Judokas capitalized on a major mistake from the Fighting Maroons’ Zarchie Garay, securing a 27-12 lead over the defending champions.
With UE holding a slim 15-12 lead in the overall standings, Lopez sealed the victory in the women’s minus-48 kg with a yuko-shiho-gatame – her second waza-ari – against UST’s Arielle Alcoran with 27 seconds left in the match. This allowed UE to enter the second day with a more comfortable advantage.
“Ang mindset ko lang po kanina during my game is ibibigay ko po siya for UE, to pay forward po talaga sa lahat ng napagdaan ko. And it’s time to give back sa UE; binigay ko na lahat at wala na akong tinira. Alam ko ‘yung pinaghirapan namin, lalo na ng mga teammates ko, kaya hindi ko po ‘yun sasayangin,” said Lopez, 24.
Despite the lead, the Lady Warriors know the fight isn’t over, as the Lady Judokas, led by five-time World Sambo Championships bronze medalist Sydney Sy, are always a threat to catch up.
“I believe in them, 100 percent. And I know that they’re carrying their champion’s heart. Tiwala naman po ako sa kanila, sa naging training nila, and siyempre kay Coach Rod (Rodimple Rodriguez) na talagang andyan sa ‘min na kahit gaano man kahirap hindi kami titigil para makuha uli ‘yung championship,” Lopez added.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Reigning back-to-back MVP Joemari-Heart Rafael kept the minus-57 kg gold with UE, needing just 13 seconds to defeat Ateneo de Manila University’s Robynne Gonzales with a well-executed osoto-gari.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Mylene Matias added another gold with a successful kesa-gatame against De La Salle University’s Hannah Mira in the minus-44 kg gold medal match at the 1:13 mark.
Ateneo’s Rossana Nolido and UST’s Princess Cortez joined Rafael and Gonzales on the minus-57 kg podium, while La Salle’s Tala Danielle Tadeo and Amber Arcilla earned the bronzes in the minus-48 kg.
Christine Quiniones and Mary Joy Baldos of UST collected bronzes in the minus-44 kg.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Faiza Asilum prevented a shutout for UST by defeating UP rookie Annika Caminero in the minus-52 kg final, scoring a second waza-ari with an osoto-gari just as the final buzzer sounded.
UST’s Angelique Cortez and UE’s Jhen Rose Mae Obeja earned the bronze medals in this weight class.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the men’s division, Garay, the reigning champion in the men’s minus-90 kg, was disqualified after shouting derogatory words at UST rookie Rodge Daniel Bernal, a violation of judo’s spirit, despite landing a successful attack.
Bernal went on to claim silver after losing to UST’s Kyan Louis Ballecer in just 11 seconds, following a swift uchi-mata from his senior.
Ateneo’s Stefan Pete Fabre and UP’s Laurence Sy took the bronze medals in this weight class.
Chino Sy successfully defended his minus-100 kg title, quickly defeating teammate Lorenzo Noel Tolentino in 21 seconds with an uchi-mata-sukashi counter. UP’s Jay-ar Suplig and Jacob Torres earned the two bronzes in this event.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Reigning MVP Jayvee Ferrer of UP remained undefeated in his UAAP career, winning the minus-81 kg gold by pinning UST’s John Carlos Aniciete with a kesa-gatame in just 45 seconds. Fellow Fighting Maroon Ollzhen Dionisio took the bronze, along with Ateneo’s Aldwyn Thor.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
La Salle’s George Angelo Baclagan kept the plus-100 kg title in Taft with a well-timed uchi-mata that defeated UST’s Rael Geoffrey Abujos after 1:13 minutes. UP’s Miguel Henrico Javier and UST’s Tristan Jacob Reyes completed the heavyweight podium.
The Green Judokas are in third place in the men’s division with seven points, thanks to Baclagan’s gold.
Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles and Lady Green Judokas are tied for third in the women’s division, both with four points, earned from one silver and one bronze.
