FIL-AMERICAN Emma Malabuyo and fellow Paris Olympian Jordan Chiles grabbed the balance beam and floor exercise honors as the no. 6-ranked University of California-Los Angeles Bruins fought back in the final rotation to repulse the no. 5 Michigan State Spartans, 197.300-197.200, on Sunday.
Competing before a crowd of 10,681 at the Pauley Pavilion in their home turf, the Bruins were behind by seven-tenths of a point before scoring a national-best 49.800 on the floor exercise during their ongoing Big Ten Conference women’s gymnastics meet.
The Bruins rounded off the performances off Malabuyo’s 9.95 score in her last rotation on the floor exercise, along with the decisive perfect 10.0s from Chiles, a member of Team USA’s Paris Olympic gold medal squad, and Chae Campbell.
This saw the Bruins taking their third straight triumph in the Big Ten 10 standings, giving the team a 6-2 win-loss overall record in the NCAA Division 1 rankings.
The Bruins were down 148.200-147.500, when team members recorded the team’s highest floor scores in four years, off perfect 10s from Campbell and Chiles.
Backed by Malabuyo’s title-clinching 9.925 average in the balance beam, they were able to outscore the Spartans when action ended.
The Spartans went home with three golds, with the all-around title going to Nikki Smith (39.425). The vault title was shared by Olivia Zsarmani, Smith and Sage Kellerman (9.950), while the uneven bars crown went to Kellerman (9.925).
According to official stats, Malabuyo was the only other Bruin to score above 9.7 in the balance beam, when she earned a meet-winning 9.925 during the third rotation.
“I couldn’t be more proud of their resilience and their fight and grit in that moment. That said a lot about who our team is,” said Bruins’ head coach Janelle McDonald, who handled Malabuyo when she competed for team Philippines at the Paris Olympics.
