AFTER THE Lady Jins displayed a lackluster performance in this year’s University Athletics Association of the Philippines Taekwondo Competition, Team Captain Alfritz Unson (MBA) took over the cudgels and spearheaded the Blue Jins to a first runner-up finish in front of a boisterous crowd of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Gym.
The hard-kicking Blue Jins came out with guns ablaze in their opening match against their De La Salle University counterparts, overwhelming the Taft-based archrivals, 6-1, in a format where each team fields seven players, and whatever team grabs at least four wins shall be declared the winner.
After losing to eventual champions, the University of Sto. Tomas Jins, 5-2, the Blue Jins redeemed themselves by sweeping their final three assignments—with Unson sealing the triumph in each victory.
4-1 slate
The Blue Jins Team Captain was fifth on the line-up and the team had the 3-1 advantage before he competed. Unson delivered the lethal blows every single time together with the team’s prowess and agility to ensure the 4-1 victory.
The Blue Jins bested the University of the Philippines Jins and the defending champs, the FEU Jins with identical scores of 4-3 and overwhelmed the kickers from University of the East (UE), 5-2.
The team also rallied their way to the individual standings as four of them received medals. Gyle Geñoso (I AB MEco) and Mark Dizon (II AB MEco) received gold medals for attaining the most number of wins respectively. Joaqui Mendoza (III AB Comm) garnered second place honors for a silver medal while Unson pocketed a bronze.
The other Blue Jins who took part in the tourney were Allen Unson (I AB Eu), Kavin Antonio (III AB IS), Josh Obar (III BS CoE), Micah Geraldez (III BS Mgt), and Harold Gardon (II BS Mgt).
Improving from their third place finish last year, the Blue Jins finished with a 4-1 slate in the round-robin.
Fifth on six
Meanwhile, Team Captain Kimberly Menchavez (IV AB IS) and the Lady Jins had a hard time finding a way to score as the team wound up fifth place on a field of six. The team managed to defeat UE, 5-2.
Pauline Angeles (IV AB Hum), Quennie Trono (III AB MEco), Katherene Alampay (II AB Philo), Monique Caparros (II BFA ID), Mikaela Falgui (II BS Mgt), Cindy Burdette (III BS LM), Angela Valera (IV AB Hi), and Anna Lou Lagman (II AB Comm) completed the line-up of the Lady Jins.