One Sports
Friday, November 22, 2024
The NU Lady Bulldogs reclaimed the title in the UAAP Season 87 Taekwondo Tournament after beating the UP Lady Maroons, while the NU Bullpups notched their second straight title.
The NU Lady Bulldogs and NU Bullpups dominate the UAAP Season 87 Taekwondo Tournament held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, November 21. | Photos: UAAP
NATIONAL University reclaimed the throne after a perfect 5-0 campaign in the women's division of the UAAP Season 87 Taekwondo Tournament on Thursday evening at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
It was the Lady Bulldogs' first championship since completing a four-peat from UAAP seasons 79 to 82 (2016-19) with an impressive six-gold haul.
After defeating University of the Philippines, 6-1, NU ended University of Santo Tomas' two-year reign with a 6-1 victory to complete a perfect season.
"Sobrang proud talaga ako sa women's team namin. Last year, we fell short by one match pero ganun talaga yung game, may nananalo, may natatalo," recalled NU taekwondo program head Carlos Padilla.
"Lagi ko lang sinasabi sa kanila na competition ito. Masasabi natin na sayang pero kasi, palaging may nanalo at natatalo. So kami, pagnanalo, continue pa rin kami mag-prepare pero kung nag-fell short kami, walang ibang solution diyan kung hindi to push. Nag-focus kami sa maling ginawa namin at pinukpok kung ano yung strength namin. So far, nagawa nila."
When the competitions resumed after a three-year hiatus, the Tiger Jins won back-to-back as the Lady Bulldogs finished runners-up in the past two seasons.
Bantamweight Veronica Garces was named season MVP.
"Pinaka main thing na ginawa namin is to start from the bottom. Hindi namin inisip na runner-up kami last year but we really aimed for a championship even the loss last year," said Garces, a 25-year-old jin who is currently finishing a masters in education degree in health and physical education.
"Sobrang thankful ako sa teammates ko na pinagkatiwalaan nila ako. Talagang entering this season, confident kami na makukuha namin yung championship."
De La Salle toppled traditional men's powers NU and UST to complete a 5-0 sweep on Wednesday to annex its first title since Season 76 (2013) and the ninth overall.
"We are very proud of them kahit hindi sila mag-champion because grabe yung hard work nila and their fighting spirit, lahat yun nagbunga," said Green Jins coach Kirstie Alora, an Olympian from the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. "Masaya kami na nakuha yung championship."
Finweight Johnson Rosario emerged as the tournament MVP.
"Ako hindi ako talented na player, hard work lang talaga. Ginawa ko as a captain, shinare ko sa kanila paano ako nag-iba through taekwondo. Ito yung nangyari sa amin," said Johnson, a 25-year-old native of Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
"For me, masaya ako na naging parte ako ng La Salle. Matagal na yung huling championship ng school. Gusto ko yung matatak yung name namin. Na-inspire ako sa other teams namin na nag-champion na. Eto ngayon, naka-contribute na ako sa school namin."
Aside from Garces, other Lady Bulldogs gold medalists were finweight Clarence Sarza, flyweight Rajany Santos, lightweight Sharifa Via dela Cruz, and middle/heavy weight Merica Chan.
"Parang mga kapatid ko na sila," quipped the young Padilla. "Kung paano ko ginagawa? Hindi ko rin ma-explain pero kasi sobrang masunurin sila at very goal-driven."
"Yung difference ng team na ito kung ikukumpara yung unang championship team namin to now is this is our redemption year. Nung una, underdog talaga kami. From nothing to everything kami. Sobrang special ng comeback namin," said Garces.
The Tiger Jins placed second with a 4-1 record behind last season's MVP Laizel Abucay, who won the featherweight gold.
La Salle, which completed the women's podium with a 3-2 record, had Dhivine Lerado, featherweight silver medalist, as the Rookie of the Year.
Rosario, welterweight Einz Aricayos and middle/heavyweight Marc Andrei Gacilos were the other Green Jins' gold medal winners.
NU, which has a 4-1 record for second place, was led by bantamweight Kenneth Buenavides, who also went home with the top rookie honors, and featherweight Nusair Lao, last year's MVP.
In third was UST with a 3-2 slate, with flyweight Alien Aynaga as its lone gold medalist.
The Bulldogs, who saw their five-season domination came to an end, battled the Tiger Jins for the runner-up honors and emerge triumphant, 4-3.
In the high school division, NU-Nazareth defeated UST, 4-1, to annex its second straight title via 4-0 sweep.
"Simula ng nahawakan ko yung NU, dalawang season na second runner-up sila. Last year, nakuha na nila at naulit pa ulit. Siguro, credit ito sa co-coaches ko at pati sa mga seniors nila na magandang influence sa kanila," said Padilla.
The Bullpups' gold medalists were John Angelo Pascual, who was also the MVP, and Michael Cabaluna.
Jean Sebastian Durana and Giancarlo Fernandez gave the Junior Tiger Jins' two golds and leading their squad to a second-best 3-1 card.
FEU-Diliman overpowered De La Salle-Zobel, 5-0, to secure third place starring gold medalist Kay-Ar Cruza.