By Jean Malanum

MANILA – The University of the East (UE) proved its superiority in the UAAP Season 87 judo competitions on Sunday by winning three titles at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
The women’s team, led by MVP Leah Jhane Lopez, collected its fourth straight title after securing 40 points on four gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) was second with 19 points (one gold, one silver, and nine bronzes), followed by De La Salle University with 14 points (1-2-1), Ateneo de Manila University with 12 (1-1-2), and University of the Philippines (UP) with 11 (1-1-1).
“We, at UE, it’s not just a team, it’s like a family. And the culture we have developed in UE is different. The respect and discipline is really there. And also in training, we really have each other’s support system,” the 24-year-old Lopez of Pasay City said.
UE also ruled the high school division. The boys’ team captured its first-ever title while the girls’ squad secured back-to-back titles.
Both UE and UST garnered 36 points but the former won the boys’ title by one gold (four golds, two silvers, and two bronzes) while the latter has three golds, three silvers, and six bronzes.
Ateneo was third with 12 points (1-1-2) and La Salle-Zobel with 10 (0-2-4).
In the girls’ category, UE got 45 points (5-3-1), followed by UST with 31 (2-4-5) and La Salle-Zobel with 10 (1-1-0).
Meanwhile, UST tallied 47 points on four golds, five silvers, and four bronzes to register a league-best 15 titles in the men’s category.
National team standout Troy Estrella, who defended the minus 66kg title, was named MVP.
“I am happy for UST that we were able to return the championship that our players worked so hard for. We came from a tough loss from last year from being straight champions. Now that we have come back, we’re very happy,” the 22-year-old Estrella said.
“The MVP was added just to make me happy, but my goal is to help the team become champions. And that’s the goal of all of us, to be champions.”
UP finished second with 34 points (3-2-7), followed by De La Salle with 11 (1-1-1) and Ateneo with four points (0-0-4). (PNA)