UST asserts HS Judo Day 1 action

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 85 Day 1 High School Judo Standings
School - points - g-s-b

Boys'
UST 23 2-2-3
DLSZ 14 1-2-1
UE 7 1-0-0
Ateneo 3 0-0-3

Girls'
UST 37 4-3-0
DLSZ 3 0-1-0
Ateneo 0 0-0-0
UE 0 0-0-0

The University of Santo Tomas asserted itself as a powerhouse in the UAAP Season 85 Judo championships, taking control of both the boys and girls division on the first day of action on Saturday morning at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Falling short of the title back in 2020, the Junior Tiger Judokas secured all but one medal in the four divisions in play.

Margaret Fajardo claimed the heavyweight (over-78 kg) gold medal against her two rivals, with teammate Mariah Lua fending off Rochelle Goitia of La Salle-Zobel for the silver.

Jennelyn Tunacao defeated teammate Krystelle Amisola in three matches to claim the middleweight (under-70 kg) title, while Janika Quizon claimed the half-heavyweight crown (under-78 kg) over Althea Lua with a two-match sweep.

Angelique Cortez completed the gold dash for the girls in claiming the half-middleweight (under-63 kg) title over Gabrielle Talaue of DLS-Z.

Talaue's silver medal would be the only medal secured by a non-UST judoka.

In the boys' division, Patrick de Tomas and Zeus Babanto claimed UST's two gold medals to help hold the lead for the Junior Tiger Judokas at 23 points.

The former did it in the half-lightweight division (under-66 kg), needing just 39 seconds to secure the gold over Nash Dabandan of DLS-Zobel. UST's John Paul Villanueva and DLS-Z's Anthony Cabanting claimed the bronze medals.

The latter defeated teammate Joermil Caguicla to claim the lightweight (under-73 kg) gold medal. In an all-Ateneo matchup, Aldwyn Thor defeated Primo Luciano for the bronze medal.

La Salle-Zobel snapped up a gold medal in the extra-lightweight (under-60 kg) division, as Mikee Trinidad defeated Justin Bagallon of UST in the final. Finishing as bronze medalists in this division are Raizelle Turla of UST and Eupurt Asayo of Ateneo.

The University of the East fielded just one participant in the boys division, and it paid off with Eric Rodriguez netting the gold in the featherweight (under-55 kg) category. The Junior Warrior battled Yngo Ramos of La Salle-Zobel to a draw in regulation with a waza-ari each, but Eric manages to secure the ippon after 43 seconds in the extension to secure the title. Jose Malaya of Ateneo and Bobby Eupena Jr of UST secure the bronze medals.

La Salle-Zobel is in second place, with fourteen points. Rodriguez's feat puts UE in third place with seven points.

Action continues Sunday morning with the remaining weight classes to be played.