In the recently concluded Taekwondo matches in this year’s UAAP season, the DLSU Green Jins came in first runner up. Led by senior Xavier Stepanek, the Taft-based kickers proved DLSU Taekwondo is a force to be reckoned with.
Xavier is one of DLSU’s graduating students who led the team this UAAP season. In his four-year stint as a Green Jin, he has experienced and seen the ups and downs of the team. He mentioned that would remember their championship win in season 73.
He mentioned, however, that the downside of his UAAP career is the Jins’ bid this year that ended in a bridesmaid finish. Despite the decent performance, Stepanek believed that this is the Jins’ the worst season.
He elaborated, “20 seconds into my match, I fell down and fell to my elbow that injured my hand that led to the loss.”
Stepanek’s loss was DLSU’s lone loss in the tournament. Despite the finish, Stepanek has left a legacy, and would be known for his discipline in the squad.
“Keep on training. They must not learn how to stop despite success. Wag makuhang sumuko,” Stepanek stressed as he announced that he might leave the team depending on his career decision next year.
Stepanek, who is set to graduate this year, but has not used all of his eligibility years in the UAAP, has less than a year to decide whether he’ll continue his Taekwondo career in the UAAP or not.
