FEU jins dominate Smart nat’l tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern University’s fighters emerged as the rising stars of Philippine taekwondo by bagging three senior men and women gold medals in the recent Smart National New Face of the Year championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Finweight Rafael Martinez and featherweight Jason Samson prevailed in the men’s advance competition while flyweight Ronnielette Balancio struck in the senior women’s advance event to edge ahead of National University bets who came through with two gold medals.

Flyweight Julius Kevin Japlit and light-welterweight Karla Angela Soria delivered the two NU golds in the men’s and women’s advance competition, respectively.

Martinez, Samson and Balancio triumphed at the expense of Lyceum’s Ivan Santos, FEU’s Emmanuel Canizares and Bulacan’s Meryll Mercado, respectively, while Japlit and Soria outfought UP’s Justin Castillo and Lyceum’s Kathleen Mae Miranda, respectively.