Santo Tomas jins start campaign on high note

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas shut out Ateneo, 7-0, and routed University of the Philippines, 6-1, to kick off its UAAP Season 74 women’s taekwondo campaign on a high note last Tuesday at The Arena in San Juan.

The Tigresses fashioned their shut out of the Lady Eagles behind finweight Korina Paladin, flyweight Yvie Hanah Murillo, bantamweight Monica Reyeg, featherweight Marynez Niango, lightweight Arianne Agegurado, welterweight Emron Golding and at middle heavyweight Jane Narra.

In the men’s division, De La Salle also opened its title-retention bid with a bang, blasting away at University of the East, 6-1. FEU nipped UP, 4-3, behind the middle heavyweight match victory registered by Tamaraw Alfonso Santillan over Guillano De Dios.

UST also sent a strong message in its bid to regain the men’s trophy after it posted a 6-1 victory over Ateneo.

In the other women’s matches, the Lady Tamaraws blanked the Lady Warriors, 7-0, and the Lady Archers edged the Lady Maroons, 4-3.

Jaime Pablo scored a 7-0 victory over Anthony Samia in a middle heavyweight clash, while Kevin Sia notched a 9-0 win over Maverick Bistos in a flyweight duel to power the Green Archers’ opening-day campaign.

Also scoring victories for De La Salle were Josafat Jan Lacayan over Gene Untalan, 9-2, in the bantamweight division; John Velecina over Salvez Crisencio, 10-3, in the featherweight class; and Xavier Stepanek over Coster Aguda, 2-0, in the lightweight category. UE didn’t have a lightweight bet against Gerry Del Rosario, but the Red Warriors avoided a shutout after Joenel Rendora beat R-jay del Rosario, 8-1, in their finweight duel.

Season 72 Most Valuable Player Marlon Avenido of UST returned to action with a similarly strong message after he won his middle heavyweight fight via a 6-0 shutout of Atene’s Paolo Santiago.

UST also drew its other men’s victories from flyweight Paulo Dapilag (2-0 over Raymund Bermejo), bantamweight Paul Romero (3-0 over Gyle Geneso), featherweight Dane Pio De Roda (3-2 over Marc Frigillana), Christian Al Dela Cruz (6-1 over Joel Manuel Alejandro) and welterweight Ernest John Mendoza (2-1 over Aldin Unson).