CEBU, Philippines - The Cebuano karatekas made their presence felt in the first Boracay National Invitational Karatedo Championships over the weekend.
Fighters from the Association for the Upliftment of Karatedo (AUK) dominated the individual events with four golds, three silvers and four bronzes.
Gerald Agustin Baclaan and Allison Kyle Quiroga bagged the gold medals for AUK via the advance kata, while the silver and bronze medals were handed by Felix Calipusan and Jeremy Laurence Nopre in the kumite.
Sports Karatedo Organization (SKO), for its part, collected gold plus three silvers and a bronze medal in the advance kata.
AUK and SKO then combined forces in the doubles and team events that resulted into a seven-gold haul.
The trio of Gerald Augustin Baclaan, Felix Calipusan Jr., and Jeremy Laurence Nopre won gilt in the boys 13 to 17 team kata, while John Steven Juban claimed the gold in kumite.
Jhudiel Olivar, Kyle Ryan Luza, and Lord Jacob Alisoso topped the boys 12 team kumite, while Janine Narboada, Rheiane Annarie Luza and Hannah Kye Abao topped the distaff side.
The tandem of Kyle Ryan Luza and Lord Jacob Alisoso reigned supreme in boys 12-under doubles, Jeremy Laurence Nopre and John Steve Juban lorded it over the 14-15 class, while Gerald Augustin Baclaan and Felix Calipusan Jr. emerged as champs in the 16-17 division. (FREEMAN)