University of the East made history by securing its first-ever golden double after the two-day UAAP Season 87 High School Judo Championships on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The girls’ team annexed a back-to-back title and its fifth overall with 45 points, while the boys’ squad bagged its first-ever championship with 36 points and by superior gold medals of four against UST, which also had 36 but with three golds.
This is the school’s third crown after winning its first-ever title in girls’ athletics.
For head coach Rodimple Rodriguez it was a culmination of the squad’s hard work and determination to reach a higher level, saying, “Aminado naman ako na ‘yung training namin medyo challenging talaga. Kumbaga tinaas namin ‘yung level ng training ng varsity. Sinabi ko sa kanila ang target namin hindi lang UAAP, kundi international ‘yung target natin. Kaya karamihan sa kanila part ng national team.”
Rookie of the Year-MVP Jhenica Serrano led the charge for the Junior Lady Warriors, which collected all the golds at stake in Day 2, with the win in the minus-44 kg class over training partner Gabrielle Dizon.
Quency Khian Alcala (minus-48 kg), Dennice Tan (minus-52 kg), and Lileth Pumay (minus-57 kg) completed the golden sweep with Sophia Novino adding another silver in the minus-48 kg.
Myrina Labjahasan’s gold in the minus-70 kg and Solenn Trillo’s silver in the minus-63 kg set the tone for the squad’s bid for back-to-back after the first day.
On the other hand, the Junior Warriors fended off UST’s late charge to extend its reign to eight seasons as the latter bagged two golds in the minus-100 and plus-100 weight classes with Jeordan Caguicla and Ethan Dalmacio, respectively.
Nonetheless, Paolo Dolor took care of business with a huge win over De La Salle Zobel’s Elijah James Manuel in the boys’ minus-81 kg to put UE in the driver’s seat.
Ateneo’s Alphonso Academia steered Ateneo into third place with an upset of UST’s Zeus Babanto in the minus-90 kg, which also forced that tie for the championship in terms of points.
