DLSU Judokas seal S87 chapter with double bronze finishes

Photo by: University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Media Team

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green and Lady Judokas capped off their campaign for the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Judo Championship with an impressive double bronze finish yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Photo by: University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Media Team

De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Judokas

On Day 2 of the UAAP Judo Championships, the DLSU Green Judokas added two more medals to their haul, finishing the competition with a total of three: one gold, one silver, and one bronze.

Green Judoka Angelo Saria secured the silver honors in the Lightweight (below 72kg) division after surrendering to University of the Philippines (UP)’s Christian Michael Zuñiga, who retained his title with an ippon-seoinage over Saria 27 seconds before the match ended. Meanwhile, Jason Palmes claimed bronze honors in the Super Lightweight (below 55kg) category, with Palmes also edging out teammate Patrick Enriquez in an all-DLSU showdown earlier that day.

With this performance, the DLSU Green Judokas clinched the overall bronze trophy, amassing 11 points to finish third behind UP with 34 points and University of Santo Tomas (UST) with 47 points.

Photo by: University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Media Team

De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Judokas

Bouncing back from a fifth-place finish in UAAP Season 86, the DLSU Lady Judokas reclaimed their spot on the podium in Season 87 after collecting a total of four medals: one gold, two silvers, and one bronze.

Yvonne Aragon secured the Lady Judokas’ lone gold medal in the Half Middleweight (below 63kg) division, defeating UP’s Krystanna Resente in the Finals after Resente incurred a third shido. Meanwhile, Maristela Turro earned a silver in the Half Heavyweight (below 78kg) category, as UP’s Stephanie Fetalver retained her title with a well-executed harai-goshi over Turro with the clock reading 1:03 minutes into their match.

Hannah Mira also added another medal to her record by earning the prestigious Rookie of the Year award, complementing the silver medal she secured in the Featherweight (below 44kg) Division during Day 1 of the competition last Saturday, December 14.

With these contributions, the DLSU Lady Judokas secured the overall second runner-up position with 14 points, trailing behind UST’s 19 points and University of the East (UE)’s dominant four-peat championship run with 40 points.

Despite falling short of their golden dreams, the DLSU Green and Lady Judokas successfully redeemed themselves this season after overcoming the challenge of losing key members and stepping up with fresh faces on the roster. The determination and resilience they showcased on the mat, with both teams maximizing every second of their four-minute bouts, highlight their unwavering drive to represent the Green and White with pride. With this season’s promising performance as a foundation, both the men’s and women’s team look poised to make an even stronger statement and break new records in the seasons to come.