Judokas aim for top spots this season despite younger team

Getting to the top of the podium has always been the goal of the DLSU Judokas. Regardless of what place they finished in, they would always train hard during weekdays despite their busy schedules and their rigorous academic workloads. After years of persistence, they would enter the season in a position they have never been in before.

History was made last season as one of La Salle’s Judo teams was finally able to break the championship jinx that has haunted it for years. The DLSU Lady Judokas, behind the performance of MVP Nicole More, clinched the elusive title that gave the team its first gold medal. The DLSU Green Judokas, meanwhile, ended in third place.

Still under the helm of coach Sam Bernales, the Judokas look to finish at the top once more in UAAP Season 77.4

Green Judokas aim for their first championship

It was another usual year for the men’s Judo team in season 76 as they finished in third place, another top 3 finish. While it may be considered successful to a degree, they still haven’t reached the goal of a championship. Now, with a team comprised mostly by rookies, it is a much tougher climb for the Green Judokas.

“Most of the men’s team for the Judo varsity are new. Last UAAP, most of our seniors graduated except for our team captain Micky Regala and myself,” said Green Judokas Co-Captain Fernando Cortez.

“Everyone here [in the team], we have to train from scratch. Most of them came from either PE [FTSPORT classes], the club or simple walk-ins. The problem with this is that they don’t have any prior experience [with regards to collegiate competitions],” he adds.

Lady Judokas in an unfamiliar position

The Lady Judokas aren’t new to entering the tournament as one of the favorites, but never have they experienced being the defending champions. They have fallen short of the title in many of their previous campaigns, but they were finally able to get over the hump due to the inspiring performances of last year’s seniors, especially that of More. Now they are trying to find a way to sustain that momentum to this year’s slugfest.

“Nape-pressure kami kasi first time namin mag-champion. Ayaw naming mag muhkang first and last ‘yun. So ang goal namin is to get the back-to-back championship,” remarked Lady Judokas team captain Marjorie Ann Santiago about the feeling of entering the tournament as champions.

A rookie-laden squad

The graduation of some of the team’s senior players has left a gaping hole in the experience department for the squad. With a pool made up of mostly new recruits, Coach Sam Bernales has to make a lot of preparations for the upcoming tournament.

“Gagawin namin lahat ng makakaya namin, especially now,nag-champion kami last time [Season 76] pero lahat naman ng nag-contribute last time, graduate na. It’s a challenge now to step in the competition with the rookies,” saidBernales on how he plans to approach the challenge.

“Since maraming senior yung nawala, four graduated, tapos na yung playing years nila,haloslahat [rookies] galingsa PE [FTSPORT]. So ginagwa naming preparation is to motivate yung lower batch sa amin or yungnagsimulafrom scratch,” addsSantiago about their rookie laden team.

With the new season about to kick off, the challenges of clinching the champioship once again for the Lady Judokas and breaking the drought for the Green Judokas persist. But behind the mentorship of Bernales and the camaraderie of the new and veteran athletes, La Salle’s bid to dominate UAAP Judo is not far to reach.