MANILA, Philippines—It took a long while and it wasn’t easy but La Salle finally seized its first women’s title in 14 years after a resilient 4-3 triumph over University of the Philippines Tuesday in the UAAP Season 75 taekwondo tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Middle-heavy Ynah Langit turned back Bettina Someros, 11-4, to provide the decisive win for the Lady Archers, who fell behind, 1-3.
“We really prepared for it. Nahinog na kami,” said coach Stephen Fernandez, who has been with La Salle for 24 years.
Lightweight Jyra Lizardo whipped Marigold Taculog, 13-0, while welterweight Patricia Gonzalez turned back Cyrmyn Perlas, 8-2, for La Salle to even things up at 3-3.
“To win it, we have to beat the best teams in the league. The matches are difficult for us and I’m really grateful that the team pulled through this year,” added Fernandez. “It’s a collective effort,” he added.
La Salle completed a six-game elimination sweep to clinch its fifth women’s taekwondo title.
The Tigresses wound up in second place after a 6-1 rout of the Lady Tamaraws.
In the men’s division, UST repulsed UP, 5-2, to win the title.
UST also conquered the juniors division after blanking De La Salle-Zobel, 5-0. The Tiger Cubs bagged their fourth straight championship.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas won three of the five gold medals at stake in the demonstration event poomsae.
Shaneen Sia ruled the female individual event for the second consecutive year and later teamed up with fellow World Championships veteran Marvin Gabriel to bag the gold medal in the mixed pair event.
The Growling Tigers, led by Gabriel, also won the gold in the male team event.
In other poomsae results, FEU beat UST to clinch the gold medal in the female team event, while UP’s Dustin Mella defeated Gabriel to win the men’s individual gold.