The triumphant UST men's judo team in the UAAP Season 87 judo tournament, December 15, 2024 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila. UAAP Media

MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas is back on top in UAAP men's judo, securing the Season 87 championship at the conclusion of the two-day tournament on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.

It is the league-best 15th men's judo crown for the España-based judokas.

National team standout Troy Estrella, along with the lightweight judokas, finished what Chino Sy and the heavyweights had started, capturing UST's sixth title this season. This victory added to the university's earlier championships in men's beach volleyball, men's chess, taekwondo poomsae, and a double win in table tennis.

Estrella delivered a crucial performance for the Tiger Judokas, fending off a significant comeback from the defending champions, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. He retained UST's gold medal in the minus-66 kg category, defeating his teammate Jandrei Sotto in the final.

The 22-year-old completed his impressive run to the MVP title with a swift tai-otoshi against his training partner in just seven seconds.

"Natutuwa ako for UST na naibalik namin 'tong championship na pinaghirapan naming players. Nanggaling kami sa tough loss from last year from being straight champions. Ngayon na nakapag-come back kami, we're very happy po," Estrella said.

"'Tong MVP na 'to was added na pampasaya lang sa 'kin, pero ang goal ko is makatulong na mapag-champion 'yung team. At 'yung naman ang goal naming lahat, 'yung mag-champion."

READ: UE claims golden double in high school judo

READ: UE women extend dynasty in judo with 4th straight crown

The competition was intense early on, with both the Fighting Maroons and the Tiger Judokas battling closely. Key contributions came from former gold medalist Ralph Jefferson Suarez and Rodhenyel Lopez, whose bronze medals in the minus-60 kg category helped keep UST in the lead.

UP managed to secure two golds through national team standout Levyn Panganiban and returning Christian Michael Zuñiga. Panganiban defended his minus-60 kg title against teammate John Paulo Almeyda with a 49-second uchi-mata, while Zuñiga retained the minus-72 kg title with an ippon-seoinage over De La Salle University (DLSU)'s Angelo Saria, just 27 seconds before time expired.

However, the combination of two bronze medals in the minus-60 kg and that 1-2 finish from Estrella and Sotto was enough to secure the victory for UST.

Third-year judoka Janry Pamor capped off the championship with a win over the defending two-time minus-55 kg champion Hyejun Lee, who received a third shido for non-combativity with just 26 seconds left in the match.

The Tiger Judokas built an impressive 27-12 lead after the first day, a margin they maintained through the tournament. This lead was bolstered by the 1-2 finishes from Sy and Lorenzo Tolentino in the minus-100 kg and from Kyan Ballecer and eventual Rookie of the Year Rodge Daniel Ivan Bernal in the minus-90 kg.

"It was exemplary. Maganda naman 'yung result na nag-champion. Ang totoo, maraming maling nangyari sa kalaban; maraming legality na nangyaring hindi maganda sa UP, pero other than that, maganda 'yung performance namin. 'Yung mga coaches nagawa nila 'yung trabaho nila na matutukan 'yung players at 'yung strength and conditioning maayos," said long-time head coach Steven Esteban.

"I wasn't expecting this to happen because UP still has its players from last season, but many of my players stepped up, so ito 'yung result," he added.

The Fighting Maroons finished in second place with 34 points, with Season 86 MVP Jayvee Ferrer earning the lone gold on day one in the minus-81 kg category, along with five bronzes.

George Baclagan's gold in the plus-100 kg helped the DLSU Green Judokas secure third place with 11 points, which included Saria's silver in the minus-73 kg and Jason Palmes' bronze in the minus-55 kg.

Ateneo de Manila University ended up in fourth place with four points from four bronzes, while Adamson University completed the order of finish for the season.