AdMU, UST dominate men’s, women’s judo

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo regained the crown in the men’s division while University of Santo Tomas retained the women’s title in the UAAP Season 78 judo tournament at the La Salle-Greenhills gym Thursday night.

The Blue Eagles amassed 61 points to unseat last year’s titlist Growling Tigers, who settled for runner-up honors with 45 points.

Brothers Alfred Benjie (-81 kg) and Jose Ariel Querubin (-100 kg), along with Monch Santiago (-90 kg) delivered the golds on the final day as Ateneo recaptured the title it won two years ago for a seventh championship overall.

Santiago took the MVP honors while Nico Clemente, the other Blue Eagles gold medalist who won the -66 kg in last Wednesday’s opener, went home with the Rookie of the Year honors.

De La Salle banked on Keith Reyes’ victory in the +100 kg category to place third with 19 points, nipping University of the Philippines, which pooled 18.      

UST rebounded from the setback in the men’s division by dominating the distaff side with 86 points, posting a huge 62-point romp over runner-up University of the East.

Tracy Honorio (-57 kg), Eunice Lucero (-70 kg) and Aislinn Yap (-78 kg) bagged golds for the Tigresses’ eighth overall and second straight under coach Gege Arce.

UST’s other gold medal winners, Khrizzie Pabulayan (-48 kg) and Miam Salvador (-44 kg), took the tournament MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.

The Lady Maroons wound up third with 20 points.

The Tiger Cubs, behind MVP Jefferson Salcedo and Rookie of the Year winner Shaine Arnel Haber, dethroned the Blue Eaglets in the boys division with 53 points. Ateneo had 31 points for second while De La Salle-Zobel was third with 25.

UST also topped the girls division, which is played for the first time as a demonstration event.