National University captured its first-ever title in a tight-contested UAAP Season 85 Taekwondo Poomsae Championships Tuesday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Ceanne Rosquillo, James Lopez, and Jed Tan, sealed the Bulldogs’ breakthrough title by ruling the men’s team event with 8.265.
NU’s other gold came from season MVP Laeia Soria, who ruled the women’s individual category with 8.250, besting Aidaine Laxa of University of Santo Tomas, who had 8.135 and Mikee Regala of De La Salle University, who had 7.880.
The Tiger Jins, who also won two golds, were hoping to get a favorable result in the men’s team event to claim the back-to-back, but breaks were not in their way.
University of the Philippines’ Dominic Navarro, Joshua Cachero, and Datu Rayhan, who need to win the men’s team gold to hand UST the overall title, instead came in close second with 8.235. Vincent Rodrigues, Kobe Macario, and Darius Venerable of UST finished third with 8.165.
“I’m still processing it, but it’s hard work basically,” NU coach Dustin Mella said. “We had to rethink our own approach to our lineup, to the events we want to emphasize. It was a lot of hard work and there were really so many factors.”
The Bulldogs finished with a 2-2-0 medal tally, while the Tiger Jins amassed 2-1-1.
UST topped the mixed pair and women’s team events.
Rodriguez and Chelsea Tacay stunned La Salle’s Patrick Perez and Regala in the finals with a close finish for the pair gold, 8.230-8.215. Joaquin Tuzon and Elaine Borres got the bronze for the Blue Eagles with 7.895.
Last season’s MVP Laxa powered the UaST trio that also included Jade Carno and Stella Yape to the defense of their female team crown with a huge 8.350 final score. NU’s Soria, Abegail Pacificador, and Denise Alicias took the silver with 8.215, while La Salle’s Sofia Sarmiento, Zyka Santiago, and Daphne Ching plucked another bronze with 8.005.
The Blue Eagles achieved their first-ever poomsae podium finish with a 1-0-1 medal tally.
Ateneo’s Joaquin Tuzon claimed the other gold of the day, reigning over the men’s individual event with 8.195, beating heavy Rosquillo (8.170) and Perez (8.115) in the process.
