NU takes charge in UAAP collegiate taekwondo

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 85 Day 1 Collegiate Taekwondo Kyorugi Standings

Men's
NU 3-0
UST 3-0
DLSU 1-1
FEU 1-1
Ateneo 0-3
UP 0-3

Women's
NU 3-0
UST 2-0
DLSU 2-1
UP 1-2
FEU 0-3
Ateneo 0-3

National University kicked off its title retention campaign on an impressive note, winning all its matches in the first day of the collegiate kyorugi action in the UAAP Season 85 Taekwondo tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym inside Ateneo de Manila University.

The Men's Division saw the Bulldogs dispatch the University of the Philippines, 6-1, Far Eastern University, 5-2, and Ateneo, 7-0. Leading the cast is national athlete Kurt Barbosa, who shared afterwards, "It's good to be back talaga, kasi after three years na pandemic walang mga laro. Kaya itong UAAP namin pinaghandaan talaga namin, kaya sabi namin pagbalik, 'Handang-handa na kami ulit para i-defend yung title."

Barbosa won both his matches on the mat in his under-54 kg division, defeating Vince Yango of UP, 10-0 and 8-4, and Ron Jaranilla, 12-0 and 12-0. The Rookie-MVP of Season 81 was handed another win with Antonio Sucero of Ateneo forced to withdraw due to a pulled hamstring.

Season 82 runners-up University of Santo Tomas also won its matches, issuing 7-0 sweeps against UP and Ateneo before nipping La Salle, 4-3.

DLSU did manage to get themselves on the board with a 4-3 win over UP. Far Eastern University did bounce back from their loss against NU with a 7-0 sweep against Ateneo.

On the women's side, the Lady Bulldogs swept its first two assignments against Ateneo and FEU, before eking out a narrow 4-3 win over La Salle.

Securing the win in their matchup is Nicole McCann, defeating Argie Lamasan in three rounds, 0-12, 10-3, 2-0.

The Green Jins dropped to 2-1 with the defeat, which came after they dispatched UP, 4-3, and Ateneo, 6-1.

Also remaining undefeated so far in the distaff side is UST, winning against FEU, 6-1, and UP, 5-2.

The Lady Maroons did manage a win in Day 1, nipping FEU, 4-3.

Expect an intense race in the second and final day of competitions on Thursday, with NU and UST still to face off.