Malabuyo, PH ace, opens season in smashing style for Bruins
Emma Malabuyo has begun her season on a gratifying note, hinting of greater things to come in three significant tournaments for the Philippines this year.
Almost flawless with her execution and landings, the Filipino American gymnast put up a season-high 9.925 points on the floor exercise and a 9.900 tally in the vault to be a big contributor to the UCLA Bruins’ recent victory in the Big Ten Conference of US NCAA Division I.
The Paris Olympian’s performance there is surely a good sign in her bid to retain the women’s floor gold in the 2025 Asian Gymnastics Championships on June 12 to 16 in Jecheon, South Korea.
Bodes well
Malabuyo’s near-perfect routine likewise bodes propitiously in the national team’s aspirations for multiple gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games at the end of this year in Thailand.
“I’m really proud of how we’re working in the gym,” said Malabuyo after the sixth-ranked Bruins topped Illinois, 197.200-194.750, in Los Angeles recently. “We have been focused so much on sticks (perfect landings), and to be able to stick back-to-back is amazing,’’
It was the second Big Ten victory of the Bruins with Malabuyo helping UCLA seize their fifth win in seven competitions.
The Bruins, with Olympic gold medalist and two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles joining forces with Malabuyo, are anticipated to make life difficult for Big Ten defending champion Michigan State over the weekend.
Apart from the floor and the vault, Malabuyo is also showing signs of superiority in the beam, ranking third in the United States with an average of 9.925.
Malabuyo, one of three Fil-Am gymnasts who competed for the Philippines in the Paris Olympics, compiled at least 9.900 in her last four meets highlighted by an impressive 9.975 in one tournament.
“I’m hoping to improve every single week with this team,’’ said Malabuyo, who consistently placed second overall in as many meets she joined so far, including winning two apparatus.
