University of Santo Tomas seized the lead in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions of the UAAP Season 88 High School Judo Championships after opening day on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila.
Zachary Cabrera and Christine Ocampo delivered key victories for the Junior Tiger Judokas and Junior Female Judokas, respectively, as both squads surged to early leads after Day 1.
UST now holds a six-point advantage over reigning champions UE in the boys’ division, 20–14, while establishing a commanding 21-point cushion in the girls’ side, 31–10.
Cabrera stunned reigning High School Boys’ MVP Chezter Caminong in the semifinal of the under-66 kg category en route to reaching the gold medal match.
The De La Salle Araneta University product then defeated De La Salle Zobel’s Nash Dabandan two minutes into the final to complete his Cinderella run.
“Nung nakita ko po si Chezter sa draw, ang mindset ko kahapon, inisip ko kaya ko po sila talunin that time po. Kaya inisip ko, kahit masakit lahat ’yang bato sa akin, inisip ko na lang, sayang ’yung pinaghirapan namin this day na po ’to,” said Cabrera, who is also a proven winner in jiu-jitsu.
“Kaya sinabi ko na kailangan ko pong manalo para sa pamilya ko … dahil sa sakripisyo ng team. Kaya hanggang finals, gano’n po ang mindset ko. Inisip ko rin po na ayaw ko na po maulit tulad ng last UAAP ko.”
Caminong settled for the bronze, while Antoine Calaycay of Ateneo also finished third.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Julian Valien De Castro repeated his victory over Amare Vicente in the under-73 kg final to secure another gold for the Junior Tiger Judokas.
Completing the under-73 kg podium were Carlos Nala of UST and Jon Andrei Pecbot of Ateneo.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UE’s Aisaac Alcantara delivered the defending champions’ lone gold of the day, improving from last season’s silver after outlasting UST’s Cricien Gloria in the under-55 kg division via golden score.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Miguel Jalit secured a gold for Ateneo, avenging last season’s Rookie of the Year Deon Ordoño with a last-second yuko in the under-60 kg final.
UST’s Santino Guevarra and DLSZ’s Miguel Tecson took the bronzes in the under-55 kg class. Meanwhile, Renz David Adocon of UST and Rolando Cruz of Ateneo claimed bronze in the under-60 kg division in a rematch of last season’s final.
Ateneo finished Day 1 just four points behind UE with 10 points, while De La Salle Zobel settled in fourth place with four.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other hand, Ocampo made a strong debut in the league with a statement win over UE’s Sollen Aphrodite Trillo in the final match of the under-63 kg round-robin, after both athletes earlier defeated Cristel Olila in their respective matches.
“Siguro yung pinaka-mindset ko po is siyempre unang-una si Lord, kasi po sa totoo lang, sa dami ng pagsubok na naranasan ko, ang dami talagang nangyari sa akin. Grabe po, kung wala po si God, wala po ako dito ngayon. And siyempre sa family, friends, and teammates na lagi sumusuporta sa akin, napakabait niyo po talaga,” said the 17-year-old rookie from Wellspring Academy of Canlubang, Inc.
“Ako po ay only child, pero sinusuportahan po nila ako at grabe po yung support nila. And sa coaches ko po sa Calamba po si Coach July at si Ronald Fajardo, at sa UST si Coach Russ at si Coach Mike Fajardo.”
Riona Rodriguez and Keisha Kate Balisi completed the gold medal haul for the Junior Female Judokas, both prevailing in best-of-three finals against their teammates.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Rodriguez defeated Alexa Asis in the under-78 kg division, while Balisi dominated Gabrielle Gambe in the plus-78 kg category.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Jennelyn Tunacao salvaged a gold for the defending Junior Lady Warriors, winning the under-70 kg round-robin over UST’s Krystelle Amisola and Josa Marie De Imus.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
