NATIONAL University (NU) achieved its first Golden Double in the recently-staged University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 taekwondo tournament at the Ateneo Blue Eagles gym in Manila.
Defending champions Lady Bulldogs successfully defended their crown after dominating University of the Philippines (UP), 5-2 in the finals while its senior men’s team finally won its first UAAP title over traditional power houses University of Sto. Tomas, UP, and De La Salle University.
Multi-awarded national team member and 2017 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Arven Alcantara led the NU men’s team conquest alongside Noel Sabillano, Dave Cea, Keno Mendoza, Diether Baylon, Jean Nigel Buan, and Raymond Cano. Alcantara also took home the tournament MVP honors.
The distaff side were bannered by eventual MVP Jessica Canabal together with Rhezie Aragon, Nicole Mcaan, and Charisse Viray.
National champions and Bacolod’s Hanah taekwondo standouts Marcus Hinojas and Keith Smart Docado helped the NU Bullpups secure their silver finish behind UST after settling for seventh place last season.
The young NU team dethroned three-peat champions University of the East Junior Warriors and De La Salle-Zobel. Completing the Bullpups were Cuper Edera, Sturdy Gilbuena, and Gabriel Salaknib Soria.
NU Bulldogs taekwondo head coach Jeffrey Figueroa said he felt thankful that finally the Bulldogs has achieved its first Golden Double and almost winning a Grand Slam in this year’s UAAP Season 80.
“Our rigid preparation and the school’s undying support played a major role in this successful season for us. Also finding and recruiting the right players to fill in the line-up made it almost easy for us to achieve this. But as always, I keep on reminding all my players not to be contented and to continue to strive for more,” Figueroa said.
Hanah Taekwondo coach Vic Feria, in a rare occasion, flew all the way from Bacolod to witness and support his players in their first UAAP Season.
“I’m really proud of Marcus and Keith, even though they were awarded silver after tying with UST. They performed so well and delivered the goods for NU,” he said.
Following his successful UAAP stint, Hinojas will undergo the final evaluation for the Junior National Team with fellow Hanah Taekwondo teammates and former Cadet National Team members Shaira Isabel Garbanzos and Camille Andrea Miraflores, and Cadet World Champion Mary Angeline Alcantara.
This is part of the Philippine Taekwondo Association’s final team selection for the 2018 World Junior Taekwondo Championships and 2018 Youth Olympics.