UST jins notch 2 triumphs

VIENTIANE—Team UAAP-Philippines won two gold medals courtesy of its taekwondo jins Friday in the 16th Asean University Games here.

University of Santo Tomas mainstays Christian Al dela Cruz and Ernest John Mendoza carried the load for the PH student-athletes in the week-long competitions organized by the Asean University Sports Council.

Dela Cruz, the Season 75 MVP, needed a strong third round to defeat Pham Huu Son of Vietnam, 8-4, in the men’s welterweight finals, while middleweight Mendoza won via disqualification over hometown bet Sawatvilay Phimmasone in the gold medal match.

Team UAAP-Philippines also bagged two bronzes courtesy of taekwondo jin Jane Narra also of UST and diver Rebecca Pahoyo.

Narra lost to Tring Kim Tuong Van of Vietnam, 4-8, in the women’s welterweight semifinals to settle for third place, while Pahoyo took bronze with 205.10 points in the women’s 10-meter platform.

The victories by Dela Cruz and Mendoza easily surpassed the one gold haul by the PH taekwondo jins in Chiang Mai two years ago.

The badminton men’s team, led by Ateneo’s Toby Gadi, was eliminated after losing to Malaysia and Indonesia via identical 1-4 scores.

Team UAAP-Philippines opened its campaign Thursday with its poomsae artists.