University of the East made history by securing its first-ever golden double at the UAAP Season 87 High School Judo Championships, held over two days at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The girls’ team claimed their fifth overall title and second consecutive championship with 45 points, while the boys’ squad bagged their first-ever championship with 36 points, edging out UST by superior gold medals – four golds to UST’s three.
This marks UE’s third crown in recent history, following their first-ever title in girls’ athletics.
For head coach Rodimple Rodriguez, the victory was a testament to the team’s hard work and determination to reach new heights.
“Aminado naman ako na ‘yung training namin medyo challenging talaga. Kumbaga tinaas namin ‘yung level ng training ng varsity. Sinabi ko sa kanila ang target namin hindi lang UAAP, kundi international ‘yung target natin. Kaya karamihan sa kanila part ng national team,” he said.
Rodriguez also highlighted the team’s mental toughness: “Yung mga bago nga sa ‘min naku-culture shock, gusto mag-quit no’ng una. Pero with proper mental training nagtutuloy naman. Tignan mo naman ‘yung bunga ng pinaghirapan nila.”
Rookie of the Year and MVP Jhenica Serrano spearheaded the Junior Lady Warriors, who won all the golds on Day 2.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Serrano triumphed in the minus-44 kg class over her training partner Gabrielle Dizon.
Quency Khian Alcala (minus-48 kg), Dennice Tan (minus-52 kg), and Lileth Pumay (minus-57 kg) completed the gold sweep, with Sophia Novino adding a silver in the minus-48 kg.
Myrina Labjahasan’s gold in the minus-70 kg and Solenn Trillo’s silver in the minus-63 kg set the tone for the Junior Lady Warriors’ back-to-back bid on the first day.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Junior Warriors fended off UST’s late charge.
UST collected two golds on Day 2 in the minus-100 and plus-100 kg weight classes, courtesy of Jeordan Caguicla and Ethan Dalmacio, respectively.
However, Paolo Dolor sealed the win for UE with a crucial victory over De La Salle Zobel’s Elijah James Manuel in the boys’ minus-81 kg, putting UE in the driver’s seat.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Ateneo’s Alphonso Academia helped Ateneo secure third place by upsetting UST’s Zeus Babanto in the minus-90 kg, which resulted in a tie for the championship points.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Dolor’s gold proved to be the deciding factor between the championship and a runner-up finish. He added to the previous day’s golds from eventual Rookie of the Year Deon Ezekiel Ordoño (minus-60 kg), MVP Chezter Caminong (minus-66 kg), and Albrene Borja Jr. (minus-55 kg).
UST finished second in both divisions.
The Junior Tigresses earned 31 points in the girls’ category, with two golds, four silvers, and five bronzes.
On the boys’ side, UST finished with 36 points, claiming three golds, three silvers, and six bronzes.
UST’s golds came from Abigail Joy Gangan and Sophie Madamba in the girls’ minus-78 kg and plus-78 kg, and from Julian Vallen Castro in the boys’ minus-57 kg on Day 1.
Ateneo took third place in the boys’ competition with 12 points, paced by Academia’s gold (1-1-2), while DLSZ completed the girls’ podium with 10 points (1-1-0), led by Gabrielle Talaue’s gold in the minus-63 kg on Day 1.
