Eagles, Archers cop judo titles

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo regained the men’s crown and De La Salle captured its first women’s title in UAAP Season 76 judo tournament that closed Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Season Most Valuable Player Matt Jao clinched the +100 kgs gold medal and Anjo Gumila wrested the -90 kgs mint to power the Blue Eagles to 47 points to clinch the championship. The Katipunan-based judokas, who were champions in Season 73, also scooped three silver and six bronze medals.

Ateneo, which hacked out a “three-peat” from 2008 to 2010, defeated University of the Philippines, which bagged the runner-up honors with 35 points.  De La Salle was third with 32 points.

The Lady Archers, on the other hand, amassed 42 points on a 3-2-1 gold-silver-bronze medal haul to end a long 21-year title drought in UAAP judo.

Nikki More, who clinched the gold medal in the -57 kg category, was named MVP. Also winning golds for De La Salle gold medalists were Justine Pongase (+78 kgs) and Marjorie Santiago (-63 kgs).        

The Lady Eagles were a far second to the Lady Archers with 29 points. University of the East also had 29 points but settled for the third place trophy because of an inferior quotient.

A rebuilding University of Santo Tomas (UST) finished fourth in both categories.