University of Santo Tomas annexed a fourth straight boys crown, while University of the East kept the title for a third consecutive season, as UAAP High School Judo Championships, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Junior Golden Judokas won two golds on the final day courtesy of half-heavyweight Joshua Quizon and heavyweight Rael Abujos, to finish with 24 points.
La Salle-Zobel, which led on opening day, settled for second place with 21 points. Meanwhile, Far Eastern University-Diliman, courtesy of Knoxville Lining’s half-middleweight gold, was able to reach the podium with 18 points.
Yvan Ayalin won the middleweight gold, but his effort was not enough for Ateneo to achieve a top three finish. Instead, the blue-and-white settled for fourth with 16 points.
On the other hand, the Junior Lady Warriors successfully defended the girls’ title, as featherweight Mary Joy Baldos, extra lightweight Joemari-heart Rafael, and half-lightweight Denise Mae Pidlaoan emerged victorious in the final day.
UE finished with 37 points, 11 ahead of UST which settled for runner-up honors. Cathlyn Vergara was the Junior Tigresses’ biggest hope after she broke through the final, but Pidlaoan stopped her in the gold medal match and had to take the silver.
Zoey Itliong’s lightweight gold propelled La Salle-Zobel to third place with 17 points.
