Zamora nips Ong in playoff, leads jr taekwondo finalists

Russelle Jean Zamora outduelled Karen Ong of Bulacan in sudden death to lead two other Negros Taekwondo Union bets to the championship round in the junior division of the Samsung Best of the Best National Taekwondo Championships at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City Friday.

Zamora and Ong fought to a 3-3 score in the first two rounds but the NTU Tiger outhit the latter in their playoff to seal a showdown with AIDA’s Sheena Mae Perlas for the welterweight crown. Perlas outclassed Jenefer Tayag of Zamboanga, 5-2, in their semis duel.

Two other NTU Tigers advanced to the finals in women’s play of the event sponsored by Samsung with Elmie Rose Baradas trouncing Kimberly Menchaves of San Beda, 2-1, to set up a clash with Jessica Joy Ballesteros for the featherweight title. Ballesteros, playing out of Cavite, drubbed Michelle Homores of Rizal High School, 4-1.

Meanwhile, hostilities in grade school division were being played at presstime with the finals of both the juniors and 13-under categories will be played today starting at 10 a.m. A grand taekwondo demonstration will be held at 4 p.m., according to the organizing IMG.

Rubilyn Mapa, also of Negros, defeated Geraldine Agaton, also of Rizal HS, 4-2, to gain a crack at the lightweight gold in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Taekwondo Association and backed by Alaska, Bacchus, IBC-13, Accel, Colours, The STAR, Ayala Center and Solar Sports. She faces Kathleen Kaye Roble of Cagayan de Oro, who routed Therese Banayo of Rizal HS, 3-0.

Others advancing to the finals of the 14-17-year-old class were Cristina Faye Ongpin of Clarkfield and Rotrice Ashlie Lavalan of UE, who will dispute the finweight crown; Cathy Jane Hampac of Zamboanga and Kristie Jane Manapsal of AIDA, who will clash for the flyweight title; Gernelyn Aranzanso of La Salle and Monica Dianelo of Clarkfield, who will fight it out for the bantam plum; and Jan Ross Pacquing and Kathleen Valenzuela of Bulacan, who will vie for the middleweight crown.

In men’s play, Raffy Futolan of RPTC and Edison Bagaipo arranged a showdown for the finweight crown as they disposed of Julius Cinco of Ilocos Norte, 2-1, and Diego Navarro, 4-3, respectively, while Vishnu Catarig of Muntinlupa nipped Charlon Ferrer of CSA in sudden death after a 3-3 tie to set up a clash with Jason Sinoy of General Santos for the flyweight crown.

Sinoy bundled out Louise Paul Nobleza of Iloilo. UST’s Giorgio von Gerri de Guzman advanced to the finals of the bantamweight category with a 4-1 win over Ronald Canny of Meycauayan. He will face Dennis Resaba of UE, who defeated Jorge Alexander Gamutin of Gen. Santos, 3-2.

In featherweight action, Jurrie Bernardino of UST ripped John Ray Perez of Laguna, 4-0, set up a title duel with Benedict Polloso of Rizal HS, who beat Jorge Lotas of Antique, 3-1.

Jemo Gonzales of Don Bosco Makati and Dave Ian Pryor of Batangas clash for the lightweight crown by beating Justine Lising, 5-3, and Juan Carlo Panopio, 6-3, respectively; while Archie Antonio and Jehu Inciong dispute the welterweight crown with victories over Richard Llantenar and Vincent Baniqued, respectively.

Arvie Antonio booted out Apollo Lising, 7-4, to dispute the middleweight title with Kervin Ong of Bulacan, who won over Ralph Monakil, 6-3.