Ateneo, UST cop UAAP judo crowns

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo regained the throne in the men's division, while University of Santo Tomas retained the women's championship Thursday night in the UAAP Season 78 judo tournament at the La Salle-Greenhills gym.

The Blue Eagles amassed 61 points to unseat last year's titlist Growling Tigers, who settled for the runner-up honors with 45 points in the event backed by Imperium Technology.

Brothers Alfred Benjie (-81 kg) and Jose Ariel Querubin (-100 kg), along with Monch Santiago (-90 kg) delivered the golds in the final day as Ateneo recaptured the title it won two years ago and the seventh overall.

Santiago was named the season MVP while Nico Clemente, the other Blue Eagles gold medalist after winning the -66 kg in last Wednesday's opener, went home with the Rookie of the Year honors.

De La Salle banked on Keith Reyes victory in the +100 kg category to place third with 19 points, nipping University of the Philippines, which has 18.     

UST somehow rebounded from the setback it suffered by the men's team by dominating the distaff side with 86 points, holding a huge 62-point margin over runner-up University of the East.

Tracy Honorio (-57 kg), Eunice Lucero (-70 kg) and Aislinn Yap (-78 kg) bagged golds for the Tigresses, who won the title for the second straight year under coach Gege Arce and eighth overall.

UST's other gold medal winners, Khrizzie Pabulayan (-48 kg) and Miam Salvador (-44 kg) took the tournament MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.

The Lady Maroons achieved podium finish at they wound up third with 20 points.

The Tiger Cubs, behind MVP Jefferson Salcedo and Rookie of the Year winner Shaine Arnel Haber, dethroned the Blue Eaglets in the boys division with 53 points. Ateneo had 31 points in second while De La Salle-Zobel went third with 25 points.

UST also topped the girls division, which is played for the first time as a demonstration event.