The second half of UAAP Season 75 started last November, but has shown no signs of losing heat as DLSU is gearing up for the university’s chance for a General Championship. The LaSallian takes a look back at two first half teams that performed from July to October last year.
Kicking it up a notch
The Green Jins concluded the team’s UAAP run bridesmaid to the throne, while the ladies earned the championship. Both teams’ stellar finishes have been attributed to Coach Stephen Fernandez’s mental conditioning and choice of new recruits to fill up last season’s gaps.
The Lady Jins continued the team’s winning streak after the UAAP as the ladies bagged the crown in the 35th National Taekwondo Championship held last July. The Green and Lady Jins also succeeded in the 2nd SMART – Philippine Taekwondo League; both were top contenders in the competition.
Fernandez commented, “It was a busy year [2012] for us, but for the players it was all worth the participation.”
This year, however, DLSU will see the departure of Patricia Sembrano due to graduation. Coach Fernandez will fill up the slots in both teams off-season to strengthen the heavier weight class roster of both teams. Fernandez also wants to balance both teams’ lightweight and the middleweight roster.
Coach Fernandez ended with a teaser for Season 76. He said, “For Season 76, our goal is to retain the women’s title and regain the men [Championship]. We will concentrate on kicks that score higher points like head kicks and turning kicks. Of course we will also put into consideration conditioning and mental toughness. We know that other teams will be better this season, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Heavier impact
The DLSU Judo team came short in UAAP 75 as the men’s judo team fell to end the season with a bronze while the team’s lady counterpart concluded the competition at fourth.
Head Coach and newly appointed Philippine Judo Federation (PJF) NCR Vice President Sam Bernales explained that the teams will focus on becoming better, faster, and stronger to give opponent teams a run for their minutes in the Tatami.
Accepting the teams’ loss in UAAP 75, both teams went through a different early off-season tournament to train as players acknowledged that they would need to gear up for the next season. In the next season, the teams will rely more on new members to keep the teams afloat.
Philippine Judo Team member, Annie Pedroso is expected to keep the team intact as veteran members of the team graduate from the roster. Pedroso, who won numerous medals during her prime in the national team, will push the Green Judokas to improve. The fruit of the team’s labor came in the recently concluded DLSU Philippine Friendship games where several Judokas won medals. Amongst the fast improving Green Judokas is Mickey Regala, who won gold last Season.
Coach Sam Bernales added, “The team is now training hard for next season, and we wish to bounce back and hopefully win it all this season 76 for the team and for DLSU.”
