Camille Naredo

The National University women's taekwondo team celebrates its triumph in UAAP Season 87, November 21, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. UAAP Media

The National University women's taekwondo team celebrates its triumph in UAAP Season 87, November 21, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum

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UAAP Season 87

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1732263122194IMG_1669.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The National University women&#x27;s taekwondo team celebrates its triumph in UAAP Season 87, November 21, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. UAAP Media"/>The National University women&#x27;s taekwondo team celebrates its triumph in UAAP Season 87, November 21, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- National University on Thursday reclaimed the UAAP taekwondo throne after a perfect 5-0 campaign in the women&#x27;s division of the Season 87 tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.The Lady Bulldogs claimed their first title since completing a four-peat from UAAP Seasons 79 to 82 (2016-2019).They got it done with an impressive six-gold haul, capped by a 6-1 triumph against the University of Santo Tomas that ended the Tigresses&#x27; two-year reign. Earlier in the day, the Lady Bulldogs took a similar 6-1 win against the University of the Philippines.&quot;Sobrang proud talaga ako sa women&#x27;s team namin. Last year, we fell short by one match pero ganun talaga yung game, may nananalo, may natatalo,&quot; recalled NU taekwondo program head Carlos Padilla.&quot;Lagi ko lang sinasabi sa kanila na competition ito. Masasabi natin na sayang pero kasi, palaging may nanalo at natatalo. So kami, pagnanalo, continue pa rin kami mag-prepare pero kung nag-fell short kami, walang ibang solution diyan kung hindi to push. Nag-focus kami sa maling ginawa namin at pinukpok kung ano yung strength namin. So far, nagawa nila.&quot;When the competitions resumed after a three-year hiatus, the Tiger Jins won back-to-back as the Lady Bulldogs finished runners-up in the past two seasons.Bantamweight Veronica Garces was named season MVP.&quot;Pinaka main thing na ginawa namin is to start from the bottom. Hindi namin inisip na runner-up kami last year but we really aimed for a championship even the loss last year,&quot; said Garces, a 25-year-old jin who is currently finishing a masters in education degree in health and physical education.&quot;Sobrang thankful ako sa teammates ko na pinagkatiwalaan nila ako. Talagang entering this season, confident kami na makukuha namin yung championship.&quot;De La Salle toppled traditional men&#x27;s powers NU and UST to complete a 5-0 sweep on Wednesday to annex its first title since Season 76 (2013) and the ninth overall.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1732263250254IMG_1689.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The De La Salle University men&#x27;s taekwondo team celebrates its triumph in UAAP Season 87, November 21, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. UAAP Media"/>The De La Salle University men&#x27;s taekwondo team celebrates its triumph in UAAP Season 87, November 21, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. UAAP Media&quot;We are very proud of them kahit hindi sila mag-champion because grabe yung hard work nila and their fighting spirit, lahat yun nagbunga,&quot; said Green Jins coach Kirstie Alora, an Olympian from the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. &quot;Masaya kami na nakuha yung championship.&quot;</div>Finweight Johnson Rosario emerged as the tournament MVP.&quot;Ako hindi ako talented na player, hard work lang talaga. Ginawa ko as a captain, shinare ko sa kanila paano ako nag-iba through taekwondo. Ito yung nangyari sa amin,&quot; said Johnson, a 25-year-old native of Tagum City, Davao del Norte.&quot;For me, masaya ako na naging parte ako ng La Salle. Matagal na yung huling championship ng school. Gusto ko yung matatak yung name namin. Na-inspire ako sa other teams namin na nag-champion na. Eto ngayon, naka-contribute na ako sa school namin.&quot;Aside from Garces, other Lady Bulldogs gold medalists were finweight Clarence Sarza, flyweight Rajany Santos, lightweight Sharifa Via dela Cruz, and middle/heavyweight Merica Chan.&quot;Parang mga kapatid ko na sila,&quot; quipped the young Padilla. &quot;Kung paano ko ginagawa? Hindi ko rin ma-explain pero kasi sobrang masunurin sila at very goal-driven.&quot;&quot;Yung difference ng team na ito kung ikukumpara yung unang championship team namin to now is this is our redemption year. Nung una, underdog talaga kami. From nothing to everything kami. Sobrang special ng comeback namin,&quot; said Garces.The Tiger Jins placed second with a 4-1 record behind last season&#x27;s MVP Laizel Abucay, who won the featherweight gold.La Salle, which completed the women&#x27;s podium with a 3-2 record, had Dhivine Lerado, featherweight silver medalist, as the Rookie of the Year.Rosario, welterweight Einz Aricayos and middle/heavyweight Marc Andrei Gacilos were the other Green Jins&#x27; gold medal winners.NU, which has a 4-1 record for second place, was led by bantamweight Kenneth Buenavides, who also went home with the top rookie honors, and featherweight Nusair Lao, last year&#x27;s MVP.In third was UST with a 3-2 slate, with flyweight Alien Aynaga as its lone gold medalist.The Bulldogs, who saw their five-season domination come to an end, battled the Tiger Jins for the runner-up honors and emerged triumphant, 4-3.In the high school division, NU-Nazareth defeated UST, 4-1, to annex its second straight title via 4-0 sweep.&quot;Simula ng nahawakan ko yung NU, dalawang season na second runner-up sila. Last year, nakuha na nila at naulit pa ulit. Siguro, credit ito sa co-coaches ko at pati sa mga seniors nila na magandang influence sa kanila,&quot; said Padilla.The Bullpups&#x27; gold medalists were John Angelo Pascual, who was also the MVP, and Michael Cabaluna.Jean Sebastian Durana and Giancarlo Fernandez gave the Junior Tiger Jins&#x27; two golds and leading their squad to a second-best 3-1 card.FEU-Diliman overpowered De La Salle-Zobel, 5-0, to secure third place starring gold medalist Kay-Ar Cruza.

National University on Thursday reclaimed the UAAP taekwondo throne after a perfect 5-0 campaign in the women's division of the Season 87 tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

National University on Thursday reclaimed the UAAP taekwondo throne after a perfect 5-0 campaign in the women's division of the Season 87 tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

UAAP: NU women end taekwondo title drought with flawless campaign

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UAAP: NU women end taekwondo title drought with flawless campaign

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 22, 2024 04:14 PM PHT

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