UE wins Juniors Taekwondo Crown

By Josiah Albelda Posted Sep 19th 2013

(By Randolph Leongson)

Rookie jitters? That was not the case for University of the East’s Clifferson Scott Romuar as he defied the pressure to deliver the performance of his life to give the Red Warriors the UAAP Season 76 juniors’ taekwondo championship Wednesday at the San Juan Arena.

With the score tied at two fights apiece and just 13 seconds left in the clock, Romuar connected with a body shot against his FEU foe to escape with a 5-4 decision, securing the top podium finish for the jins from Recto.

“Eto na siguro yung pinakamasayang araw ng buhay ko sa pagko-coach ng taekwondo!,” said UE coach Jeffrey Figueroa. “Masyadong nalaglag yung puso ko sa laban. Di talaga ako makapaniwala!”

Romuar, also hailed as this season’s Rookie of the Year, said, “Sobrang overwhelmed ako sa pagkakapanalo namin.”

“Siya talaga yung hero namin. With the score tied tapos super close pa ng laban nya, di talaga nya binitawan yung panalo,” Figueroa said of his star rookie.

After being bridesmaids to UST last season, the Red Warriors swept all of its four series to earn gold. Far Eastern University ended up as the first runner-up with a 3-1 card, while last year’s titlists University of Santo Tomas finished as the second runner-up with a 2-2 record in the one-day event.

King Philip Pineda was named as the juniors’ Most Valuable Player after going undefeated in his four fights for UE. “Sobrang saya namin kasi first time naming mag-champion since we joined in 2008. Tiwala lang talaga sa coaches at teammates namin,” he said.