Phl-Smart jins bag 12 golds, 28 other medals in ASEAN meet

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines-Smart taekwondo team romped off with a haul of 12 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze medals in the recent 11th ASEAN champions (ATF) tournament in Nay Pyl Taw, Myanmar.

Many-time internationalist Kirstie Elaine Alora and Anjelay Pelaez showed the way with a gold each in the senior women’s kyorugi (free sparring) competition.

Francis Aaron Agojo, Gershon Bautista, Christian Al Dela Cruz and Kristopher Robert Uy won a gold each in the senior men’s kyorugi tilt.

The other kyorugi gold medalists were Enrique Edgardo Mora IV, Juan Miguel Ramos and Aries Capispisan (junior men) and Irene Therese Bermejo, Bea Muriel Go and Reign Charm Ragutana (junior women).

The Filipino silver medalists were Leigh Anne Nuguid and Paola Karolina Amon (senior women, kyorugi), Eric Miguel Padilla, Aaron James Galita and Joel Felipe Alejandro (junior men, kyorugi), Inna Izabella Dionisio, Cleio Marie Banez, Suzzane Glehn Caslangan and Ma. Kayen Shanelle Romuar (junior women, kyorugi) and Beatrice Anne Ventura (senior individual, poomsae), France Pauline-Alarilla/Rodolfo Reyes Jr. (senior pair, poomsae), Mary Nichole Maurin/Raphael Enrico Mella (junior pair, poomsae), Dustin Jacob Mella/Miguel Anthony Calamba/Moses Bullicer (team male senior, poomsae) and Jocel Lyn Ninobla/Maegan Bugarin/Beatrice Anne Ventura (team female junior, poomsae).

The bronze medal winners were Jenar Torillos, Benjamin Keith Sembrano and Guiliano de Dios (senior men, kyorugi), Ma. Izabelle Erika Mora and Jane Rafelle Narra (senior women, kyorugi), Mathew Michael Padilla, Rhayzor Jurriene Catris, Karlos Bennedict Gaerlan and Cedric Sam Perez (junior men, kyorugi), Coleen Herla, Kristelle Kate Salmon and Alyssa Amihan (junior women, kyorugi), Shaneen Ched Sia/Frances Beatrice Alarilla/Beatrice Anne Ventura (team female senior, poomsae) and Rinna Babanto (junior female individual, poomsae).

Philippine Taekwondo Association vice president Hong Sung Chon cited the Phl-Smart athletes for their remarkable showing.

“It’s definitely a good, encouraging sign for us in our preparations for the Southeast Asian Games this December,” said Hong.

The Filipinos’ campaign was supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Smart Communications, PLDT, Meralco, TV5 and the Philippine Sports Commission.