De La Salle University and University of Sto. Tomas were crowned as new Season 73 Taekwondo champions in stunning fashion.
By: Geoff Latayan
After two hard charging days of forty-fives and high kicks, new champions have emerged as men’s and women’s champions of UAAP Season 73 Taekwondo tournament.
One is celebrating its centennial, the other, its quadricentennial.
De La Salle University ruled the men’s division while University of Sto. Tomas captured the women’s tiara by dethroning the defending champions with a pair of stunning victories.
DLSU charged hard against depleted defending champions UST, 6-1 to take the Season 73 crown while UST blasted erstwhile titlists Far Eastern University with a 5-2 conquest.
DLSU and UST ended up tied for the men’s championship carrying similar 4-1 cards but with DLSU winning their only encounter and with a higher win-loss quotient (2.182-1.917) at the end of the two-day competition, the wards of coach Stephen Fernandez wound up as Season 73 champions.
On the distaff side, UST were in a three-way tie for the crown as FEU and DLSU tied them with a 4-1 record.
Having the weakest match quotient among the three (1.917), La Salle copped third place.
On the juniors, UST ran away with the crown as they swept past their rivals, way ahead of second place UE.
As for the best individual performers, welterweight David Andro G. Rivera of DLSU emerged as Most Valuable Player for the men’s division while middle/heavyweight Jaime B. Pablo also from DLSU was adjudged Rookie of the Year.
Other gold medalists were RJay del Rosario (DLSU-finweight), Rannie V. Mercado (UP-flyweight), Wilson M. Dumo (DLSU-bantamweight), John Beryl P. Someros (UP-featherweight) Dane R. Pio De Roda (UST-lightweight)
Joenel Moriles Rendora (UE-finweight), Mark Reynald B. Dizon (ADMU-flyweight), Paul E. Romero (UST-bantamweight), Jude Andrew S. Solis (FEU-featherweight), Xavier S. Stepanek (DLSU-lightweight), Christian A. dela Cruz (UST-welterweight) and Ernest John R. Mendoza (UST-middle/heavy) were awarded silver medals.
Winning the bronze medals were Julian Mickey O. Cordero (UP-finweight),
Rolf V. Gagujas (FEU-flyweight), Gyle Michael D. Genoso (ADMU-bantamweight), Keneth V. Apalla (UST-featherweight), Jeffrey D. Paulite (FEU-lightweight), Esmael T. Camarig Jr. (FEU-welterweight), Anthony John M. Samia (UE-middle/heavy)
Another welterweight copped the women’s MVP as Maria Camille Manalo of UST won the prestigious award over six other individual champions. Jean Claudette Rosales copped this season’s rookie of the year.
Winning their respective classes were Winlove H. Dela Cerna of FEU (finweight), Leigh Anne R. Nuguid of DLSU (flyweight), Jade V. Zafra of UST (bantamweight), Karla Jane D. Alava of FEU (featherweight), Jyra Mae G. Lizardo of DLSU (lightweight) and Marifi Violeta P. Gadit of FEU (middle/heavy).
Silver medalists for the women’s side were Charizza S. Alombro (UP), Caryn T. Pilongo (UST), Crizobelle Gayle L. Varga (FEU), Iyra April B. Tindoc (DLSU), Emron Mae P. Golding (UST), Charlene P. Casia (UE) and Ivanna P. Mabunay (ADMU).
Bronzes were given to Alyssa D. Bonifacio (DLSU), Marigold M. Taculog (UP), Ynah D. Bonifacio (DLSU), Jean Claudette D. Rosales (UST), Ashiel Ann Q. Vedana (FEU), Mary Ioannina B. Langit (DLSU) and Sheena Mae F. Perlas (UP).
Rosales was crowned as women’s rookie of the year.
For the juniors’ side, UST dominated the individual awards as three of their five jins won for them. They were Jeicco M. Lozano, Francis C. Agojo and Joaquin J. Mendoza.
Only Sean R. Rodriguez of UE and Joel Manuel P. Alejandro of ADMU won the other gold medals for the juniors’ side.
Getting the silvers were Emilio Ace F. Flores (UE), Bernard U. Razon (FEU), Jenar B. Torillos (UE), Eugene G. Torres (UST) and Juan Miguel L. Ramos (UST)
Reynaldo Timothy C. Soriano (DLSZ), Lhord Man T. Garganza (ADMU), Alberto Louis A. Basinillo (FEU), Armando P. Lazaro (FEU) and Matthew A. Cordero (FEU) grabbed the bronze medals for this season’s staging.
Lozano was adjudged as MVP while taking the rookie of the year honors was Mendoza.
