Tigers sweep UAAP judo anew

MANILA, Philippines – University of Santo Tomas needed a huge surge in the final day of the UAAP Season 77 judo tournament to recapture the men's and women's crowns Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Growling Tigers, powered by season MVP Al Rolan Llamas, collected 45 points to dethrone Ateneo, which finished second place with 43.

Al Rolan Llamas beat Adrian Mercado in an all-UST finale in the men's -66 kg. category which sealed the deal for the Gege Arce-mentored Tigers.

The Lady Eagles were poise to win it all in the women's division after amassing 30 points in the first day, but the Tigresses had other plans as tournament MVP Annie Ramirez and Princess Lucman won golds in the -63 kg. and -78 kg. categories, respectively, to win the championship with 42 points.

In the juniors division, the Blue Eaglets won the title behind MVP Christian Clemente and Rookie of the Year winner Jose Ariel Querubin.  Ateneo collected 73 points to beat UST (34) and De La Salle-Zobel (13)

It was the 11th men's crown for UST, while the women's squad annexed their 7th tiara overall.  The Tigers actually won the double championship in judo for the third time in the last four seasons.

University of the Philippines went third in the men's division with 23 points.

Ateneo finished second in women's with 32 points, while University of the East nipped UP by slimmest of margins, 22-21, to clinch third place.  La Salle, the Season 76 champion, settled for fourth spot with 14 points.

The Maroons swept the Rookie of the Year trophies courtesy of Von Kieffer Yu (men) and Beatriz Que (women).