Team
Since concluding Season 79 in fifth place, the Ateneo Women’s Judo team has been hard at work, going through rigorous three-hour training sessions thrice a week. Testing their own mental and physical toughness en route to the tournament, the team is eager to fare better in Season 80 and reach the podium.
Team Captain
Rhea Chong
After joining the team in her freshman year, seasoned veteran Rhea Chong now finds herself as captain for Season 80. With this season looking to be the final playing year of many of the team’s veterans, Chong seeks a rewarding end to their career with a convincing claim to the podium.
“I definitely feel that the team has improved over the last two years because of some medals and the like. I’m hoping that we end this season with a podium finish because we’ve been training for so long.”
Paula Rivera
Paula Rivera had no plans of joining the Ateneo Women’s Judo team in spite of having roots in the sport back in her high school years. After being convinced to attend a training session in her sophomore year, there was no looking back for Rivera. Since then, she has emerged as a key veteran and has found herself suiting up as co-captain for this year’s competition.
Alyssa Chan
Since her debut in her sophomore year, Alyssa Chan has evolved into one of the team’s senior members who will enter Season 80. Chan is hopeful that once the competition is over and done with, the team’s training will pay off with no regrets and a podium finish.
Colleen de Luna
After years of observing the sport and the lifestyle it requires, Colleen de Luna decided to start her career as a rookie in her senior year. As the lightest member of the team, De Luna faces the challenge of proving herself worthy of donning the Blue and White and fighting for the name of the school.
Regine Sy
Although she finds the sport to be a grueling craft, senior student and rookie Regine Sy enjoys the sport’s supportive atmosphere and the personal fulfillment that it offers. Thrown into the fire as a rookie, Sy looks to give it her all in the tournament in the hopes of sealing her place as a member of the team.
Coach’s Corner
Gilbert Ramirez
After finishing fifth last season, head coach Gilbert Ramirez will be pulling the strings from the sidelines in the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines Judo tournament. An experienced judoka himself, Ramirez will undoubtedly prove to be a figure of knowledge for the team this season.
“Halos lahat ngayon ay bago, pero iba ang puso ng mga athletes na ito. Makikita mo sa mga mata nila ang attitude ng isang champion (Almost everyone is new, but the hearts of these athletes are different. You can see in their eyes the heart of a champion).”
