By Jean Malanum
MANILA – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) dominated the opening day of the UAAP Season 88 high school judo tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila on Saturday.
Zachary Cabrera and Christine Ocampo led the winners for UST, which garnered 20 points in the boys’ division and 31 points in the girls’ division.
In the -66kg category, Cabrera stunned reigning MVP Chezter Rhaine Caminong (University of the East [UE]) in the semifinals and Nash Dabandan (De La Salle Zobel [DLSZ]) in the finals.
“When I saw Chezter in the draw, I thought that I could beat him at that time. I worked so hard, I have to win for my family… because of the team’s sacrifice. So until the finals, that’s my mindset. I also thought that I don’t want to repeat what happened in my last UAAP,” said Cabrera, who is also into jiu-jitsu.
Caminong and Antoine Calaycay (Ateneo) settled for the bronze.
Julian Valien De Castro topped the -73kg category over UE’s Amare Vicente.
In the -55kg category, UE’s Aisaac Alcantara beat UST’s Cricien Gloria, while Ateneo’s Miguel Dalit defeated UE’s Deon Ezekiel Ordoño, the Season 87 Rookie of the Year, in the -60kg finals.
UE tallied 14 points for second place, followed by Ateneo (10 points) and DLSZ (4 points).
In the girls’ division, Ocampo prevailed over UE’s Sollen Aphrodite Trillo in the -63kg finals.
“Maybe my mindset is, of course, Lord first because honestly, with all the trials I’ve experienced, a lot has happened to me. Seriously, if it weren’t for God, I wouldn’t be here today. And of course, to my family, friends, and teammates who always support me. I’m also grateful to my coaches in Calamba, Coach July and Ronald Fajardo, and at UST, Coach Russ and Coach Mike Fajardo,” said the 17-year-old Ocampo, a student of the Wellspring Academy of Canlubang, Inc.
The other gold medal winners were UST’s Riona Rodriguez (-78kg) and Keisha Kate Balisi (+78kg), and UE’s Jennelyn Tunacao (-70kg). (PNA)
