Alabata, Gajo, Chan sparkle in Asian junior wushu tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Noel Alabata scored a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Vietnam’s Vu Vink Duc while Jonzeth Gajo and Vanessa Jo Chan snatched a gold medal each to hike Team Philippines’ haul to six in the seventh Asian Junior Wushu Championship at the Makati Coliseum in Makati yesterday.

Alabata bucked the odds to score his breakthrough win in the 48-kilogram sanda finale while Vivine Wally and Thommy Aligaga took a silver each as the Filipino bets finished fifth overall with a 6-5-5 (gold-silver-bronze) haul.

China ran away with the overall championship with an 18-1-0 (gold-silver-bronze) take while Hong Kong garnered 7-7-3 for second followed by Iran (7-5-6) and Macau (6-6-9).

Earlier, the 11-year-old Gajo flashed superb form in his first stint on the international stage, garnering 8.99 points to rule the elementary gunshu event for 12-years-below.

“It’s a memorable experience for me winning the gold,” said Gajo, from Project 6, Quezon City, who sharpened his skills training for Wushu Discovery Club.

The 13-year-old Chan topped the first set jianshu event for 15-year-old girls after tallying 9.20.

It was Chan’s second gold after teaming up wtih Faith Kiana Andaya, Joel Casem, Dave Degala, Johnzenth Gajo, Christian Nicholas Lapitan and Kimberly Macuha for the gold in the taolu group exhibition in Thursday’s inaugurals.

“I really gave it all to win and I’m glad I did it,” said Chan, younger sister of John Kiethly, who is now training with the national elite team currently honing up in China.

Chan, who studies at Baguio Patriotic School, added a bronze in the first set quiangshu with a score of 9.11.

At presstime, the Phl had five gold, three silver and three bronze medals behind powerhouse China (7-7-3) and Hong Kong (6-6-7).

Kimberly Macuha contributed to the country’s campaign by copping a bronze in the daoshu event for 12-and-under elementary girls.

Dave Degala, who previously won a silver, finished only seventh in the second set daoshu for boys 18-under won by Japan’s Shinji Kanazawa with a 9.44 score while Agatha Chrystenzen Wong, who struck for gold Friday, wound up fourth in the 24 forms taijiquan for 15-below girls ruled by China’s Liang Biying with 9.30 points.