RPower dominates Palanca tikefest

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s pride RPower Taekwondo Club snatched the overall championship of the 5th Carlos Palanca, Jr. (CPJ) Regional Taekwondo Championships the other day at the University of San Carlos-North Campus (USC-NC) gym.

The all-Cebuano RPower TC bested 11 other competing squads after hauling 16 golds, seven silvers and three bronzes.

The RPower jins collected five gilts in the elementary boys division courtesy of Archie James Cejas in category one advance, Charles David Labister in category two advance, Kylle John Flores in category 5 advance, Bon Nico Quijano in category 6 advance and Rene Villacorta in novice.

In the girls side, Jessa Liberty Callino dominated category five advance, Charisee Labiste lorded it over in category 5A advance and Florlyn Cabo topped category six novice.

RPower’s junior boys team raked in four golds from Carl Ricarte in lightweight (novice), Lord Jay Guia in featherweight (advance), Keith Brian Fernandez in bantamweight (advance) and John Paul Tomarse in finweight (advance).

In the seniors class, Gerald Paglinawan and Larry Tabelon reigned supreme in the men’s finweight and bantamweight (advance), respectively.

Jenesa Vergara, on the other hand, secured the women’s bantamweight title (advance) while Lovely Rose Lim got the lightweight tiara (advance).

MDT placed second overall with 10 golds, six silvers and four bronzes, while Team Rama settled for third with four golds, four silvers and five bronzes.

Completing the top 10 placers were Hwarang Taekwondo (2-4-2), Junas Fitness Gym (2-2-6), Dalaguete Taekwondo (1-3-2), Danao City Taekwondo (1-2-1), Cebu Technological University Taekwondo (1-2-0), Taekwondo Jo (1-0-0) and Airforce 1 (0-5-1).

All the players who joined the yearly tilt are members of affiliated clubs, gyms and schools that are in good standing with the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA).

The winners gear up for a tougher mission as they will represent the region to the CPJ National Taekwondo Championships on February 6-7 at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.   (FREEMAN NEWS)