Two Iloilo City-based taekwondo gyms made waves in the just-concluded 2022 SMART/MVPSF National Online Interschool Poomsae Championships and 2022 SMART/MVP Sports Foundation National Online Interschool Speed Kicking Championships.

Proving as one of the best taekwondo gyms in the country, Iloilo A. Diasnes Taekwondo gym snatched seven medals. The team was led by gold medalists Elizabeth Marie Borres from Ateneo De Iloilo and Hamza Ahmed from Hua Siong College of Iloilo.

Jesseray Lucas Frantilla of Central Philippine University (CPU), got the silver medal while bronze medalists were grabbed by Seth Ryan Templanza and Frantilla from CPU in the pair poomsae category and Borres from Ateneo in the individual poomsae category.

Borres and Frantilla were two of the most outstanding jins after bagging twin medals for the Diasnes gym against the best of the best in the country.

Other jins included Katherine Beatrize Palonpon of CPU, Antonio Miguel Nafarrete of Ateneo, Artha Camille Tanagon of Colegio De San Jose, Francesca Alterado of Iloilo National High School, Abigail Cate Degoma of Santo Domingo Elementary School, and Sam Lojan Azucena of Immaculate Conception Parochial School, Zachary Aguirre, Kershel Kail Silava, Diana Ashley & Hannah Margaret Dello, Lansil Andrew Brotarlo, Kenzo Niño Orocio, Gabrielle Dominique Dacumos, Raphy Markus Señeres, Maria April Joy Muyuela, Ysa Claire Degoma, and Ehyan Rhodwell Talabucon.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo Mark V. Pinggol (MVP) taekwondo gym also impressed the crowd during the 2022 SMART/MVP Sports Foundation National Online Interschool Speed Kicking Championships.

The Denmark Pinggol-mentored jins collected nine gold, two silver, and six bronze medals.

Being the home of the champions, Edward Joseph Layson, Paul Orqeujo, Francheska Isobelle Dunton, Jenella Louise Lim, Eujean Ivanka Castete, Jannah Ysabel Velez, Ianna Gabriella Rosales, Sophia Marie Bautista, and Marielle Faye Lagamo successfully won the gold medal.

Eduardo Adenic III and Maria Beatriz Santos also got the silver while James Annrhey Pecayco, Phil Andrew Margarico, Sheine Nicole De Asis, Leianne Obispo, Mary Bernadette Algarja, and Enzo Lucio Cape earned the bronze medals.

“As a taekwondo player, winning a bronze medal is a part of my achievements. It’s satisfying winning a bronze medal. I’m prepared every competition and I’m training harder, conditioning my body with healthy eating food and sleeping early. That’s why I’m very thankful to my coaches and to my parents who always motivate and guide me. Now I’m looking forward to face-to-face tournaments, more exciting kyorugi tournament,” shared Pecayco.

Other MVP jins who qualified in the top 15 of their respective categories were Samantha Gayle Go, Kiann Dhale Fuentespina, Cian Veedant Alonday, Jeremi Panaguiton, Pearl Danielle Rosales, and Sophia Grace Go.

For Santos, she felt very good because she came from Rank 5 all the way to silver in interschool.

“We prepared for it with both speed kicking practice and sparring. And I would like to thank my dad and Sir Diegz and Sir Mark for helping us prepare for the event and their support,” she added.IMT Sports