Justine Rala led the charge for Bahay Toro with a pair of golden triumphs in the girls’ kumite for 10 years old and girls’ individual kata in the 55-kilogram and below category.
Bahay Toro’s other four golds came from Jelaine Robles (girls’ kumite-55kg), Rhea Madrid (girls’ individual kata for 11 years old), Darren Madrid (boys’ individual kata for nine years old) and Takahashi Saito (boys’ individual kata for 10 years old).
But Bahay Toro’s karatekas had some anxious moments as they had to overcome serious threats from Bagumbuhay and athletics winner Batasan Hills, both finishing second with five gold medals apiece.
Esperanza Manansala and Alexandria Anacan had two gold medals each to account for four of Bagumbuhay’s total haul of five with its other golden effort coming from its junior mixed team.
Manansala topped the girls’ kumite for 60-kilogram and below and individual kata for 13-17 years old while Anacan ruled the girls’ kata and kumite for 12 years old.
Batasan Hills, on the other hand, got its victories from Arnulfo Arboleda (boys’ 18-21 individual kata), Crisanto de Mesa (boys’ kata for 11 years old), John Cenard Cullera (boys’ kata for eight years old), Rosario Subierre (girls’ kata for 18-21 years old) and Rolando Lagman (boys’ kumite-70 kg.).
Bagong Pag-asa and San Vicente also made big impacts in karatedo as they took home four gold medals apiece while other gold medalists were San Agustin (3), Culiat (3), Claret (2), Baesa (2), Novaliches (2), Project 6 (1) and Maligaya (1). — Joey Villar