THE ATENEO Judo Team (AJT) was adorned with illustrious accolades at the recently concluded Philippine Ultimate Judo Championships, held from October 5 to 6 at the San Andres Sports Complex in the City of Manila.
Atenean judokas faced stiff competition, with over 400 participants from teams across Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Proudly donning the Blue and White gi, the Women’s Division was represented by Alexandra Tendero, Katrina Escalada, and Maxinne De Castro.
Meanwhile, the Men’s Division saw participation from Eric Rodriguez, Pete Fabre, Trev Apostol, Aldwyn Thor, Limuel Realda, Keoni Dylim, Peter Estacio, Rafael Hilao IV, John Patrick Sia, Caleb Cervantes, Steven Dy II, and Quino Ampeloquio.
In the seniors category, Tendero made her mark in the -63kg weight division. The Blue Eagle began her face-off with a decisive ippon victory over Joelle Ting, setting a strong tone to her overall performance. Competing against six judokas, Tendero ultimately secured a bronze medal despite bowing out to Sherilyn Tagra. As the AJT’s lone female medalist, her achievement highlights her skill and determination, solidifying her place as a formidable contender on the mat.
Turning over to the men’s matches, freshman Rodriguez made an explosive debut in the -55kg category, launching his campaign with a lightning-quick ippon against Ed Tuzon. Maintaining his momentum, the vicious rookie scored another ippon against opponent Ace Mendoza in the second round. With the third round underway, Rodriguez proved to be unstoppable after overpowering Marc Nuera with the same precision, and in a thrilling final bout, the gold-seeking judoka sealed his commanding run by taking down Aaron Ana-as to secure the top spot.
Following the freshman’s stint, Team Captain Apostol bowed on the tatami mats for the -66kg division. After defeating Joseph Dacer, the judoka faltered before Eiki Goya, which had him placed in the repechage bracket. The Blue Eagle bounced back, defeating Jammil Lorenzo to qualify for third-place contention, where he eventually clinched bronze after trouncing Hassan Shahabudin.
Over at the -73 kg category, AJT alumnus and former captain Elijah Claravall saw action for the Ateneo Judo Association (AJA). Following victories over his first three opponents, the graduate faced seasoned junior Dylim. In the match between Blue and White standouts, Claravall ultimately prevailed to earn a shot at gold. However, his chances were crushed by Fierre Afan, leaving the Blue Eagle to settle for a silver medal.
Coming off a triumphant run in the 2024 Indika Energy Southeast Asia Judo Championships, sophomore Thor rose to the occasion to secure another bronze finish for the Blue and White in the seniors’ -81 kg division. Thor breezed through the first round of competition with a win against Joshua Matthew Fernandez before bowing out against Carlos Leo Mantilla. In the repechage round, the Atenean quickly handled business with commanding ippon wins against Fritz Jerald Taborlupa and Sebastian Miguel Menor to clinch bronze for Ateneo.
In the -90kg category, Fabre overwhelmed his adversaries with skillful throws, quelling both Daniel Carranza and Koji Ogino in less than a minute. Facing Alphonso Academia of AJA for a golden opportunity, the veteran secured the topmost step on the podium after three heated minutes of sparring against his Atenean kin.
Competing alongside Fabre, Realda also delivered a stellar performance for the Blue Eagles in the seniors’ +100 kg division, bagging bronze. After pummeling Alden Salandanan in the first round, Realda fell to Elijah Bedia, missing out on the finals. The standout junior then captured bronze in the repechage round, with a dominant ippon win against Prince Gatmaitan.
The AJT’s portrayal of excellence stands as a testament to the skill and determination present within the flock, setting a powerful precedent for future victories. As the Blue Eagles strive to build on their success, they are cementing their status as formidable contenders on the mat. With these accolades under their belts, the AJT aims to continue its medal hunt in the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines Judo Tournament.
