Delivering medal wins in the week-long meet, Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Blue Knights claimed two golds in taekwondo poomsae and one gold for men’s 400-meter sprint at the 26th Season of the Philippine University Games 2025.

Leading the medal tally, Taekwondo poomsae representatives Jaione Audrey Cambronero and Isaiah Francis Campos clinched gold medals in the mixed pair tournament and the women’s individual event, respectively.

Campos shared that they intensified their preparation for UniGames by training daily, both during regular thrice-a-week school sessions and through scrimmages with an outside taekwondo team to ensure peak performance for the tournament.

“We trained everyday. Usually, our training is about three times a week in school. Also, we trained on an outside taekwondo team. We made sure to be prepared for the tournament,” Campos added. 

Cambronero highlighted that their execution of Pyongwon poomsae, despite its high technical demands and unfamiliarity due to its infrequent appearance in the ring, contributed to their win.

“Pyongwon is a very difficult form for us…a very advanced poomsae. Out of my seven years in competition, I have never gotten the chance to play that because of its rarity,” she claimed.

Taekwondo Coach Veya Yaoto pointed out that Cambronero and Campos’ execution stood out among the rest of the competitors because of their consistency, communication, and confidence throughout training and performance.

“It’s their consistency and the drive… the trust and confidence that they have with each other made them stand out from the crowd.”

Yaoto reflected on the poomsae team’s recent gold finish, stating it marked the return of form for the Taekwondo team, which had not achieved a top finish at UniGames for years.

“The results of the UniGames are an indicator of our comeback… from zero, no gold medal. We were the first team in AdDU to give gold medals, not just one but two gold medals,” Yaoto added.

Capturing AdDU’s lone track gold, R-man Rey Cabangbang grabbed the first place in the 400-meter dash while also earning silver in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events.

Despite uncertainty about his participation, Cabangbang mentioned that his late approval to join the delegation renewed his momentum heading into the races.

“Just a month before UniGames, I wasn’t even sure Ateneo would send me to compete. I almost slowed down my training…when the University confirmed their support, it gave me a huge boost. Being the lone representative for Ateneo in athletics came with pressure, but also a lot of motivation.”

He also faced a compressed two-day competition schedule that required him to run six races within 48 hours, including rounds held with as little as 30 minutes of recovery time between heats.

“That meant six races in 48 hours, sometimes with only 30 minutes between events. I coped by treating recovery like part of the competition—hydrating nonstop, resting every spare minute, keeping warm in the rain, sleeping early, and arriving early,” he said.

Cabangbang shared that his UniGames victory signified not a personal milestone but a reminder of the possibilities within AdDU Athletics, noting that after two years of seeking opportunities and recognition to represent the university in various leagues, he once thought he would never have the chance to compete in an Ateneo singlet.

“My UniGames performance felt less like a personal achievement and more like a quiet reminder of what’s possible for ADDU Athletics—even without an official track and field team…In a span of two years, I kept messaging the Athletics Office asking for a chance to represent Ateneo—may that be PRISAA, CEAP, DACS—or at the very least some recognition on the pages for competing and winning in multiple national and international meets—but I never got a reply. I honestly thought I would never get to wear an Ateneo singlet and run for the university.”

Other than the gold and silver medalists, both the AdDU Blue Knights taekwondo sparring team in the women’s finweight division and the women’s volleyball team settled for the bronze. 

Acknowledging the university’s wider athletic participation, AdDU sent contingents in women’s basketball 3×3, men’s and women’s badminton, and men’s volleyball, all of which competed in their respective brackets, although none reached the podium.

The 26th Philippine University Games, centered on the theme “The Games that Bring Us Together for Unity and Peace,” were held from October 24 to 30 in the Province of Negros Occidental.