Alora gains taekwondo semifinals

De La Salle’s Kathleen Eunice Alora scored twin victories early yesterday to barge into the semifinal round of the finweight division of seniors women’s category in the fourth Samsung Best of the Best National Taekwondo Championships at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

Alora, a national team mainstay, struggled past Princess Joy Mateo of Far Eastern U in the Last 16 phase, winning by deduction, then dominated Ryza Caritatibo of Davao, 4-0, 4-0, in the two-round, two-minute duel, kicking off the five-day tournament which features the best jins in the land as well as fresh talents who could be the country’s next superstars.

Alora faces the winner of the Gerika Larize Romero-Badha Catarig encounter for a berth in the final of the 47-kg-and-below category, one of the events lined up in the centerpiece seniors class of the tournament sponsored by Samsung for the fourth straight year.

Other matches in senior play, including those of Olympiad veteran Tshomlee Go (flyweight) and Marie Antoinette Rivero (light welterweight) were being played at presstime and will resume starting at 10 a.m. today with the finals slated in the afternoon.

Michelle Homeres, meanwhile, made up for Mateo’s loss as the FEU bet hammered out a 3-1 victory over Azalea Nucup of R-3 Club to advance to the semis of the bantam division.

Also hurdling their matches were Milo athlete and another La Salle bet Japoy Lizardo, Joel Oglayon, Ronald Ranque of Baguio, Hector Arellano of Letran and Jurie Bernardino of UST, all in the finweight category.

The 19-year-old Lizardo, also a member of the RP team competing in this year’s SEA Games, sized up Tuguegarao bet Francisco Tumaliuan in the first round then outkicked his rival in the next to complete a 3-2, 5-0 victory in the 54-kg and below division.