IN THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Taekwondo Championship, the Lady Eagles ended an eighteen-year medal drought with a third place finish in Season 79. In their quest for a podium finish, the lady jins recruited a decorated freshman, Pauline Lopez, who has graced the mats from the United States to the Philippines as well as in various international tournaments.
At the tender age of nine, Lopez aspired to follow the footsteps of her father, who was a member of the Philippine National Team, despite the latter’s reluctance due to the physical nature of the sport. After training for a few years, however, Pauline’s talent caught her father’s eye. “After around two or three years of doing taekwondo, he saw potential and ever since he pushed me until I made the national team here in the Philippines,” the Lady Eagle recalled.
Around a decade later, Lopez found herself in Katipunan to represent the Blue and White, which was not what she had anticipated early on in her career. On her way to nationa team trainings in the past, Lopez would pass by De Le Salle University in Taft Avenue, and it was initially her first preference to play for the Green Archers.
Upon visiting the Loyola Heights, however, Lopez was immediately taken by the grounds and its culture. “As soon as I walked onto the campus it just felt like home, ,” she reminisced. “I felt like I was in the States and people were very welcoming.”
Another contributing factor was Ateneo’s stellar academic reputation. “What I really admired here is that there are athletes who not only excel in their sport but also in academics,” she said.
Lopez has donned the colors of the country in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games multiple times, placing third in 2011 and 2013, while grabbing her first gold medal in the -57kg event in 2015. She also bagged gold medals in the Asian Youth Games and the Asian Championships. Needless to say, Pauline has had several high stake, high pressure tournaments under her belt.
Nevertheless, there were still adjustments Lopez had to make in the transition from international competition and the American style and level of play to the UAAP competition in the Philippines. “Here in the Philippines everyone’s talented but it’s just about how strong you are mentally.”
In her first year in the UAAP, Lopez acknowledged the heaps of pressure she was facing and the role of mental strength amidst the expectations. “Everyone [all competitors] knew who I was because I was representing the Philippines,” she said. “People were fighting me in a way that they had nothing to lose.”
Lopez was able to adjust to the different style of play in the UAAP, coupled with the mental battles she had to face. With the support and guidance of her coaches and teammates, Lopez was able to adjust and establish herself towards the latter stages of the tourney.
With an individual silver medal, a team bronze medal, and a Rookie of the Year Award to cap off Season 79, Lopez is already looking forward to a new year in Ateneo Taekwondo.
