UNRIVALED IN GLORY, the San Beda Red Jins secured back-to-back overall championship wins in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 Taekwondo Tournament with powerhouse performances across all categories at the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Gym last November 30, 2024.
The Red Jins’ commanding lead across all divisions solidified its dominance in the centennial season. The Men’s squad amassed broke away with 101 points to claim their second consecutive crown, besting first runner-up Arellano University (AU) who garnered 62 points.
On the other hand, the Women’s squad also imposed its dominancee, topping the standings with 103 points over De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) who put up a strong challenge with 91 points.
Leading the charge was Leiron Capitle, who achieved a rare feat by sweeping the Men’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Rookie of the Year, and Freshman of the Year honors, cementing his status as a rising star in collegiate taekwondo. Rica Antonares also shined for the Women’s division, earning the MVP nod.
“Having a healthy diet and staying focused on my training is the reason I am here today. My inspiration is my family—I’m always thinking about their situation, which is why I do my best to make them proud. Additionally, having hard-working coaches who guide me and teach me everything I need to learn motivates me to bring the crown to our beloved school,” Capitle expressed, looking back on how achieving this triple accolade was “fueled by discipline.”
Antonares echoed similar sentiments, saying, “My biggest motivation was my teammates, my coaches, and, of course, my family. Their constant support and trust in me gave me the strength to perform at my best throughout the championship,” highlighting her motivation to succeed.
Overall, the team delivered a powerhouse performance, clinching six more gold and three silver medals across multiple categories and tightening their grip on victory. The team’s triumph showcased Head Coach Edgar “Jun” Rosquillo’s over two decades of leadership. Named Coach of the Year, he made history in the centennial season by leading the Red Jins to a dominant three-division sweep.
Reflecting on his approach to the season, Rosquillo shared, “Just like in Season 99, I told my players lang na no pressure. I believed in my training program, and I knew na kung susundin lang namin iyon, everything would fall into place,” bearing a philosophy that has shaped the Red Jins into a formidable force.
He also acknowledged the sacrifices made by his athletes conveying, “Sobrang proud ako sa team ko—months of training, countless sacrifices, at ngayon, eto na, nagbunga lahat. Pero hindi pa tapos ang laban. Season 101, tuloy-tuloy tayo! Naniniwala ako na ang training program namin… This is an Olympic-level training program. Hindi lang NCAA level ‘to, pang-international din! May mas malaking laban pa sa hinaharap, at doon kami papunta,” looking forward with unwavering confidence for the team’s future.
As the Red Jins celebrates another dominant season, Rosquillo expressed his gratitude to those who have supported their journey. “I want to thank the people who have been with us throughout this journey—Father Aloy, Father Acta, Father Placid, Father JP, and Father Aleman. I also extend my gratitude to our academic moderator, Sir Aler, and all the NCAA staff for their unwavering support.”