UNIVERSITY of the East and University of Santo Tomas showcased their dominance early in the UAAP Season 87 High School Judo Championships on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with the Red Warriors leading the boys’ division and the Junior Lady Judokas taking control in the girls’ division after Day 1.
After missing the podium last season, the Junior Warriors surged to the top with 28 points, anchored by three golds, two silvers, and one bronze.
This gave them a commanding 17-point lead over defending seven-time champions UST Junior Golden Judokas, who collected 11 points from one gold and four bronzes.
In the girls’ division, the UST Junior Lady Judokas came out determined to reclaim the title they lost last season, amassing 24 points from two golds, two silvers, and one bronze. They sit ahead of their closest rivals, UE, which earned 10 points (1 gold, 1 silver, 0 bronze).
Deon Ezekiel Ordoño, a rookie from Ampid 1 Elementary School, stole the spotlight for UE with a standout performance.
The 16-year-old clinched gold in the boys’ minus-60 kg final after defeating Ateneo’s Miguel Jalit.
Earlier, Ordoño outlasted UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year, De La Salle Zobel’s Yngo Ramos, in a thrilling semifinal that extended into the golden score round.
“Ginawa naming motivation (‘yung last year) kasi marami naman na kaming bago. ‘Yun ‘yung mabibigay namin na legacy do’n sa mga first time lang naglaro pero mawawala na next year. Para sa kanila ‘tong pinaghirapan namin ngayon at para na rin sa buong team,” said Ordoño, who hails from San Mateo, Rizal.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Adding to UE’s strong showing, Albrene Borja Jr. and Aisaac Lordee secured gold and silver, respectively, in the minus-55 kg division.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Chezter Raine Caminong also delivered gold in the minus-66 kg class, edging DLSZ’s Nash Dabandan.
UST’s John Louie Gloria and Cricien Marley Gloria claimed bronzes in the minus-55 kg category, while UE’s Eljay Rey and DLSZ’s Ramos earned the same in the minus-60 kg division.
UST’s Zachary Cabrera and Ateneo’s Jon Andrei Pecbot tied for third in the minus-66 kg class.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST’s lone gold in the boys’ division came courtesy of Julian De Castro, who triumphed over UE’s Amare Vicente in the minus-73 kg final. UST’s Razielle Turla and DLSZ’s Aeon Lance Kim rounded out the podium in this weight class.
In the girls’ division, UST capitalized on a complete lineup to pull ahead of defending champion UE.
The Junior Lady Judokas swept the gold and silver in the minus-78 and plus-78 kg categories, with Abigail Joy Gangan and Sophie Angeline Madamba defeating teammates Riona Rodriguez and Gabrielle Gambe, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UE’s Myrina Ladjahasan stood out in the minus-70 kg division, taking gold after besting UST’s Arissa Bautista and Keisha Balisi in a round-robin format. Bautista secured silver after edging Balisi.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the minus-63 kg category, DLSZ’s Gabrielle Talaue defended her title by sweeping all her matches, including a key victory over UE’s Solenn Aphrodite Trillo, who settled for silver. UST’s Hannah Isabel Talob earned bronze.
DLSZ sits in third place with five points in the boys’ division and seven points in the girls’. Ateneo is in fourth in the boys’ standings with four points.
