UST Tigers rule the UAAP Season 84 poomsae competition. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Banking on its strong showing in team events, University of Santo Tomas ended De La Salle’s two-year reign in the UAAP poomsae competition Tuesday.
UST both won the men’s and women’s team gold medals during the return of the poomsae competition held at the Coral Way of SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Tiger Jins’ Vincent Gabriel Rodriguez, Miguel Alexandre Baladad, and Darius Venerable ruled the event with a score of 8.520, besting the National University Bulldogs’ James Matthew Lopez, Kier Macalino, and Ricco Jame Teraytay, who captured the silver with 8.380, and the Green Jins’ Jessie Daniel Ignacio, Michael Porras, and John Aldrin Pacana, who had 8.220 for the bronze.
Meanwhile, Aidaine Laxa, Chelsea Xen Tacay, and Stella Nicole Yape topped the women’s side with 8.515.
University of the Philippines reached its lone podium finish with a silver courtesy of Joanna Pauline Jubelag, Adel Julianne Adriano, and Alyssa Louise Caabay who recorded 8.500 points, while De La Salle’s Mikee Rose Regala, Zyka Angelica Santiago, and Daphne Ching had 8.400 to claim the bronze.
“I am very proud of everybody,” UST head coach Rani Ortega said. “What I told the team was they did not train for two weeks but they trained for two years. Even when the pandemic began, we didn’t stop training. Everybody did their part, having their online program from me and coach Junior (Reyes).
“One good thing about it is they worked on their individual weaknesses and where we can improve. So when we finally saw each other (in person), we just said ‘you are ready and in condition’,” she continued.
UST’s Laxa went home with the Season 84 Rookie-MVP award. She also secured a silver in the women’s individual event.
Kobe Macario and Jade Ashley Carno topped the mixed pair with 8.665 to jumpstart UST’s gold rush. La Salle’s Patrick Perez and Mikee Rose Regala bagged the silver with 8.615 while National University’s Ceanne Rosquillo and Leila Soria took the bronze with 8.555.
The Bulldogs placed second with one gold, two silvers, and one bronze, while the Green Archers, the second-winningest team with three titles, settled for third with a 1-1-3 haul.
De La Salle’s Patrick Perez’s 8.550 gave him a third consecutive individual men’s gold in the UAAP. NU’s Rosquillo (8.53) won silver while UST’s Vincent Gabriel Rodriguez (8.370) bagged the bronze.
NU’s Soria secured the individual women’s gold with 8.470, besting UST’s Laxa (8.455) and De La Salle’s Sofia Sarmiento (8.385).
UP wound up fourth, while Ateneo and Far Eastern University placed fifth and sixth respectively.