MANILA, Philippines—Boosting their drive for the overall crown, University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University dominated the UAAP taekwondo and beach volleyball competitions over the weekend.
The Tigers copped their 10th men’s taekwondo crown after completing a 5-0 sweep with a 5-2 triumph over last year’s champion La Salle, which settled for second place with a 4-1 card.
Leading the UST medalists were Most Valuable Player Dane Pio de Roda (featherweight) and gold-medal winners Paul Romero (bantamweight), Christian Al dela Cruz (lightweight), Ernest John Mendoza (welterweight) and Marlon Avenido (middle/heavyweight).
La Salle’s RJay del Rosario (pinweight) also picked up a gold.
FEU’s Crizabelle Vargas (bantam) and Karla Jane Alava (welter) captured gold medals in the women’s division to power the Lady Tamaraws on top during the two-day tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
With middle heavyweight Marifi Gadit emerging as MVP, FEU finished tied with La Salle at 4-3, but the Lady Tamaraws claimed the title by virtue of the winner-over-the-other rule.
Other gold medalists in the women’s side were University of the East’s Christine Benedictos (pin), La Salle’s Alyssa Bonifacio, Jyra Lizardo (light) and Inna Bonifacio (feather) and UST’s Jane Narra (middle heavy).
Tigresses rule beach volley
In beach volleyball, the Tigresses copped their first title with MVP Judy Caballejo and Maru Banaticla downing the Ateneo pair of Alyssa Valdez and Bea Tan, 21-19, 21-16, in the do-or-die Game 3 at the UE courts.
FEU prevented a UST sweep as Arvin Avila and Karl de la Calzada clobbered Tigers Jayson Ramos and Mark Gil Alfafara, 21-14, 21-17, to give their school a second straight men’s crown
“Our hard work paid off,” said Avila, the MVP from Zamboanga. “We had a hard time against UST because they’re taller.”
Ateneo’s Israel Marasigan bagged the Rookie of the Year Plum, while La Salle’s Camille Cruz took the same honor in the women’s side.
NU eyes badminton title
Meanwhile, National U shoots for its first league crown in two decades when the Bulldogs clash with Ateneo in the finals of men’s badminton starting at 9 a.m. today at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
The Bulldogs, whose last title in any sport came from men’s chess in 1986, are banking on national team standout Philip Jofer Escueta, Andrei Babad and Sonny Boy Montilla.
Ateneo is actually going for a sweep as it tangles with UE for the women’s crown at 1 p.m.
The Eagles, mentored by national ace Kennie Asuncion, and the Lady Eagles last pulled off a sweep in the 2003-2004 season.
FEU vs La Salle cagebelles
Over at the Blue Eagle Gym, the top-seeded FEU and La Salle dispute the last title berth in women’s basketball at 9 a.m.
The No. 4 Lady Archers had earlier stunned the Lady Tamaraws, 57-54, to forge the winner-take-all duel.
The winner will advance to the best-of-three Finals against defending champion Adamson, which downed UST, 53-45, in last Friday’s Final Four to clinch the first title slot.
FEU, the juniors’ top seed, also aims to avoid an upset when the Baby Tams battle the defending champion Blue Eaglets in a do-or-die semifinal at 3 p.m.
Second-ranked La Salle Zobel also hopes to redeem itself versus NU in the other knockout encounter at 1 p.m.
The lower-seeded junior squads won last Friday with the fourth-ranked Eaglets drubbing the Baby Tams, 62-53, and the No. 3 Bullpups crushing the Junior Archers, 66-52.