Growling Tigers sweep UAAP judo crowns

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas dominated the judo competitions in the UAAP Season 74, sweeping the men’s and women’s crowns at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium over the weekend.

The Growling Tigers were last champions in 2006 and overall, they have won the crown for a league-best nine times.

The Tigresses, on the other hand, kept the crown for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in league history.

It marked the first since 2003 that UST won both crowns.

Season Most Valuable Player Brian Llamas (-60 kgs), John Rodriguez (-66 kgs) and Nash Tagle (-73 kgs) clinched gold medals for UST, which snatched the crown with a haul of 50 points.

De La Salle finished second with 45 points, while dethroned three-time champion Ateneo dropped to third with 21 points.

Lucky Flores clinched silver in the men’s -66 kgs division to run away with the Rookie of the Year honors.

The Tigresses remained champions after garnering 47 points, while 12-time champion University of the Philippines was second with 38 and University of the East third with 21 points.

Southeast Asian Games-bound Anne Ramirez, Jewel de Castro, Princess Luaman and Jyniene Honororiot anchored the Tigresses title-romp.              

Ateneo, behind season MVP Ramon Santiago, won the juniors crown for the sixth consecutive season.