Last year’s bridesmaids, the Green and Lady Jins waxed hot in the opening day of the UAAP Taekwondo Tournament last September 10 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Green Jins bucked an injured Xavier Stepanek for a 2-1 record with decisive wins against Ateneo and National U.
In the distaff, the Lady Jins boasts a perfect 3-0 win-loss slate after victories against UE, NU and UST.
Starting strong
Sophomore J Licayan (lightweight) connected an instant body kick against National U’s Juncyl Chua in the sudden death round to seal DLSU’s 6-1 domination over the Sampaloc-based squad. Chua, however, managed to tie the regulation, 4-4, to for the sudden death decider.
Rookies Kirk Barbosa (finweight) and Keith Sembrano (featherweight) whipped Gold-and-Blue’s Julius Japlit and Mico Demillo, 7-4 and 14-2 respectively.
Last season’s gold medalists R-Jay Del Rosario (flyweight), Kevin Sia (bantamweight) and Gerry Del Rosario (middle-heavyweight) completed the win. Stepanek’s loss, however, proved fatal as the Green Jins yielded a close 3-4 loss against UP after toying with ADMU in the debut match, 6-1.
One man down
Veteran Green Jin Stepanek suffered an elbow injury in his opening match of the season against Ateneo’s Joel Alejandro. Stepanek had to be rushed to the hospital to cast his elbow. He may be out for the rest of the season.
The Stephen Fernandez-mentored squad will now have to endure an automatic loss in the welterweight category since the team has no alternate player for the spot.
Head Coach Fernandez remained positive on the team’s chances, “In order to win, a team has to win four [out of the seven] matches. With one automatic loss, we just have to make sure we win the remaining matches.”
“Whatever happens to Xav [Stepanek], we are here for him, win or lose,” Coach Fernandez added.
Perfect opening day
The Lady Jins blanked UE and NU 7-0 before making its 5-2 win against title contender UST.
Middle-heavyweight Ynah Langit succumbed to UST’s Jane Narra, 1-15, while teammate Apriel Solimen, who moved down two divisions to featherweight, surrendered to Jade Zafra, 1-8.
The scores between Solimen and Zafra, however, were reset after officials discovered that the latter did not have the sensor on her upper back.
The UAAP uses a sensor system and video replay to improve the tournament officiating and to promote transparency.
National team mainstay Jyra Lizardo (lightweight), Ynah (bantamweight) and Alyssa Bonifacio (finweight), Leigh Anne Nuguid (flyweight) and Patricia Gonzales (welterweight) won all their three matches of the day to keep the Lady Jins atop.
Changing kicks
The DLSU Jins will have to make necessary adjustments on the team’s upcoming matches on Friday.
“Continue what you are doing well and change what is not working. If a kick doesn’t work, try another [type of] kick,” Coach Fernandez ended.
The Green Jins will clash against UE and defending champion UST while the Lady Jins will battle it out against Ateneo and FEU.
