15-man squad vies in World t'kwondo

MANILA, Philippines - National training pool candidate Jay-Ar Alombro heads the young 15-jin team vying in the Chicago International Winter Games Taekwondo championships slated Nov. 6-8 in Illinois.

Alombro is one of the nine bets from the Diliman Preparatory School, who include Renzo Toleos, Gabby Lamarca, Amber Acosta, Vince Yango and Keonn Genercompeting in their respective age-group brackets.

The three other DPS campaigners – Jama Razon, Averie Belsenda and Jamin Marcalda – are entered in the open weight divisions, according to head coach Nap Dagdagan Jr.

The other members of the delegation are Marco dela Cruz of the College of St. Anthony, Dominie Yu of St. Jude Catholic School, Marigold Taculog, Justin Froi De Jesus and Chariza Camille Alombro, of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, and Cart de Jesus of La Salle-Greenhills.

The team’s stint in Chicago is part of DPS sports development program that has produced the likes of siblings Japoy and Jara Lizardo, the Alombro sisters and Taculog.

“Sending athletes to the different international competitions is a continuing program by the DPS towards producing future national campaigners,” said former Senator and DPS owner Nikki Coseteng.

The trip was made possible through the invitation extended by Chicago International Winter Games tournament director Iris Wegener, Coseteng said.

Besides taekwondo, the DPS program, Coseteng added, also includes swimming and basketball.

“Next year, we will be forming a varsity basketball team that will be competing in the Universities and Colleges Athletics Association, she said. The team will be made up of outstanding players from the various schools’ intramurals.

Like taekwondo, the DPS swimming program has also produced top-notch tankers who made it to several national teams, earning honors for the country.