DAVAO City's Chino Tancontian clinched a gold medal in the International School Manila Invitational Judo Tournament at the International School Manila in Taguig City over the weekend.
Tancontian, fresh from judo training in Singapore under the supervision of Jag Sport president Gerard Lim, unleashed an Uchimata technique to take down University of Sto. Tomas (UST) veteran John Quilang via ippon in the boy's 80 kilogram (kg) title match.
The 17-year-old Dabawenyo also defeated Thomas Regala of UST via ippon by using a Drop Morote technique in the elimination round.
Tancontian, thus, became an official UST varsity-student on Saturday after getting the approval of UST coach Mike Devera and UST team manager Paolo Vitug.
“Chino improved a lot. He did great in all aspects of judo. His strength also improved after series of rigid training,” Tancontian's father, Paolo, said in a phone interview with VoxPop Davao.
“I’m also very thankful that Chino is already an official member of the UST judo varsity,” the proud father said.
Tancontian, also a member of the Wrestling Association of the Philippines, is currently training in Manila to prepare for bigger events.