The Varsitarian

BY A WHISKER and a mile, the UST judo teams underscored redemption on separate mats of fortune to remain an indomitable force in UAAP Judo. Tenaciously engaging archrival University of the Philippines (UP) in another head-on collision on the battle decks, the determined charges of coach Jojo Arce played a reversal of roles atop the medal podium, regaining the overall plum in the men’s division while carving a bridesmaids’ finish on the women’s side at the Blue Eagle Gym last Oct. 1

“The victory was a fitting follow-up to the team’s impressive showing in the National Team Judo Championships. We had prepared hard for the UAAP and our hard work plus determination really paid-off,” Arce told the Varsitarian.

Displaying flashes of brilliance reminiscent of their classic “six-peat” surge eight years ago, the Tiger Judokas went on an amazing last-minute romp in the lighter weight divisions to pull the rug under the defending champion UP.

Season 69 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Stephen Gerena spearheaded the Tiger Judokas’ resurgence as kings of the deadweight discipline with a tournament-best 40 points, giving UST its seventh title in nine years.

The title-clinching feat of the Tiger Judokas somehow erased the stigma of the Lady Judokas’ foiled title-defense which saw them languishing behind the more seasoned UP team with only 29 points to show, a far cry from the latter’s whopping 76-point championship norm.

Return to the top

With a crack roster of grizzled veterans seeing action on Day 1, UST immediately broke loose from the rest of the pack, tallying 26 points, capped by splendid performances from Francis Lim, Gian Carlo Saulo, and Alexander Albor.

After being sidelined last season due to academic deficiencies, Lim confronted his opponents in redemptive fashion as he presided over UST’s 1-2 finish in the -90 kg. category to salvage the Tiger Judokas’ first gold against teammate Saulo, who settled for the silver. John Sanchez bagged the other silver for UST in the -81 kg. class.

On the other hand, Albor, who won the -90 kg. diadem in Season 68, teamed up with fellow Thomasian Jigo de Castro to cop the Tiger Judokas’ double-bronze output in the -100 kg. division.

Gerena’s towering presence on the -60 kg. mat also proved too much for Season 68 MVP Ronald San Juan as he convincingly snared the Tiger Judokas’ second gold in the contest.

Gerena, an AB-BSE sophomore, scored a pivotal wazari (half point) with 1:19 left to frustrate repeated hip-throw attacks from San Juan before completing the hatchet job with two more yukos (1/8 point) to seal the outcome.

The Tiger Judokas also got valuable contributions from Visam Calimlim and Michael Ong who both secured bronzes each in the -73 kg. and -66 kg. divisions, respectively.

Decent finish

Hobbled by the absence of key players Camille Hipolito, Mary Jayne Jaylo, Jane Capawa, Jennifer Ong and Michelle de Vera, the Season 68 champion Lady Judokas still managed to make some headway at the expense of the powerhouse UP line-up anchored on MVP Michelle Buyco.

Veteran Angelica Ciruela was the only Thomasian to survive the Lady Maroons’ titular blitz in the contest as she captured the gold in the -78 kg., fending off the challenge of UP’s Adrianne Bernartes and Carmela Regala.

“Nahirapan talaga ako dahil nawala ‘yung lima (Hipolito, Jaylo, Capawa, Ong and de Vera) pero masaya ako dahil nakuha pa rin namin ‘yung second place,” Arce said. “We seemed to have overachieved this season.”

The Lady Judokas also went home with three silvers courtesy of Vanessa Roa (-57 kg.), Trixie Ann Llamas (-48 kg.) and Carmela Bernardino (+ 78 kg.) while Joana de Castro, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the off-season, and Danica Justo grabbed a pair bronze medals in the -57 kg. and -52 kg. divisions. With reports from Llanesca T. Panti