PASSION and a willingness to sacrifice.
These are the two dynamics that Philippine Taekwondo Association Region 7 Director Tony del Prado saw in the three Cebuano jins who won golds last Saturday in the 2017 Anyang World Taekwondo Hanmadang at the Anyang Gymnasium in South Korea.
De La Salle University’s McAvengyr Alob, Lee Navales and Liam Llanto were among members of the Philippine Team who ruled the taekwondo aerobics event in the meet participated by the best poomsae jins in the world.
“Kana bitaw’ng abi nimo nga maayo na kaayo ta pero naa pa diay mas maayo nato,” Del Prado said on the level of competition the PH team survived last weekend, “Enjoy kaayo ko nag tan-aw since puro mga maayo g’yud and makalingaw.”
The Filipinos beat favorites China and Malaysia in the event.
The PH team was mentored by former world champion instructor Rani Ortega.
“She’s technically knowledgeable who’s been there and done that,” Del Prado said of Ortega.
Alob, the son of taekwondo mentor, Avengyr Alob, also won a silver in the creative men’s team poomsae.
First timers
Along with Navales, University of the Philippines Diliman’s Llanto was also a first time participant in the international poomsae meet.
Del Prado believes the third year college jin has a lot of potential.
“He will stay long in the national pool. Dili hambugero,” Del Prado spoke of Llanto who once played for the University of San Carlos during his high school days.