MVP. Half-middleweight gold medalist Jayvee Viron Ferrer of University of the Philippinez holds his Most Valuable Player trophy during the awarding ceremony of the UAAP Season 86 judo competition at Marikina Sports Complex on Saturday (Dec. 2, 2023). UP won the men's title after 16 years. (UAAP photo)
MANILA – University of the Philippines bagged three more gold medals to claim the men's title in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 judo competitions at Marikina Sports Complex on Saturday.
World grappling champion Fierre Afan defeated University of Santo Tomas' (UST) Edward Figueroa in the lightweight (-73kg) final, to add to the victories of featherweight Hyejun Lee (-55kg) and extra-lightweight Sean Levyn Panganiban (-60kg).
The Fighting Maroons likewise got two gold medals from middleweight Zarchie Garay (-90kg) and half-middleweight Jayvee Viron Ferrer (-81kg) on Thursday to finish with 48 points off five golds, three silvers and four bronzes.
UST placed second with 30 points (two golds, four silvers and four bronzes) followed by De La Salle University with 14 (1-1-4) and Ateneo with four bronzes.
In the women's division, University of the East amassed 37 points (4-1-6) to pocket the title.
UST ranked second anew with 22 points (2-3-6), followed by Ateneo with 16 points (1-3-0), UP 11 (1-1-1) and La Salle 10 (1-0-3).
UP men's team coach Edgar Ordillas said the achievement is all about trusting the process.
"'Yung words na 'yun pinanghawakan lang namin 'yun. In-instill lang sa isa't isa na maging faithful lang sa ginagawa at huwag titigil, kasi 'pag tumigil ka, doon ka lang matatalo (Those are the words we held on to. They just instilled in each other to be faithful in what they are doing and not to stop, because if you stop, that's when you will lose)," said Ordillas, a member of the Season 70 champion team.
"It has been seven, eight years nung hinawakan ko 'yung team, but it was 16 years in the making. Wala kang ibang choice kundi pagkatiwalaan 'yung proseso (It has been seven, eight years when I took over the team, but it was 16 years in the making. You have no choice but to trust the process)," he added.
Ferrer, the Season 82 Rookie of the Year, was named Most Valuable Player.
"Sobrang fulfilling kasi nga sa last two edition ng UAAP, lagi kaming first runner-up, kaya iba 'yung feeling ngayon kasi finally nakuha na namin (It's very fulfilling because in the last two editions of the UAAP, we were always first runner-up, so it's a different feeling now because we finally got it)," Ferrer, a native of Pullilan, Bulacan, said.
He continued: "Isa rin 'to sa mga rason kung bakit bumalik ako. Kasi sinabi ko kay coach Edgar na bago ko magpatuloy sa career ko sa judo internationally para sa Philippines, gusto ko siyang iwanan ng magandang memory, which is ito nga, 'yung championship (It's also one of the reasons why I came back. Because I told coach Edgar that before I continue my judo career internationally for the Philippines, I want to leave him with a good memory, which is this, the championship)." (PNA)
