La Salle stunned defending men’s champion National University and traditional powerhouse University of Santo Tomas and completed a 5-0 sweep of the UAAP Season 87 collegiate taekwondo tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum Wednesday.
In what could be the turning point of the season, the Green Jins dealt the Bulldogs their first loss with a 4-3 victory and returned later to score a 6-1 conquest of the Tiger Cubs.
La Salle’s Johnson Lloyd Rosario, Rommel Ulat, Andre Gacilos and Einz Aricayos won their respective matches, enough to win the title – the team’s 9th overall and first since 2013.
Sandwiched by the Green Jins’ wins over NU and UST was a 4-3 victory over University of the Philippines.
Reigning men’s MVP Nusair Lao, Melbourne Lustado, Kenneth Buenavides, and Sturdy Jay Gilbuena, who entered the day unbeaten, had their efforts were not enough as NU failed to sustain its two-fight winning start on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs rebounded with a 6-1 victory over Far Eastern University to earn a split for the day and raise their record to 3-1.
UST sits in third with a 2-1 record and can secure second place if it beats NU and Ateneo on the final day of the competition on Thursday.
In the women’s division, last year’s MVP Laizel Abucay led University of Santo Tomas to a 6-1 win over Ateneo and 4-3 triumph over La Salle to move on the cusp of completing a three-peat after moving up to 4-0.
The Tiger Jins can retain the throne and annex a 14th women’s title overall with a victory over the Lady Bulldogs on Thursday.
