PROMISING Cebuano taekwondo jin Lyan Llanto is expecting a grueling challenge when he competes in the Carlos Palanca Jr. (CPJ) National Taekwondo Championships which will kick-off today at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Manila.
Llanto, who is now one of the main weapons in the University of the Philippines (UP) taekwondo team, will compete in the pair and the team category of the seniors division.
“I expect to have a very close fight with the team competition since the lineups are similar to the UAAP,” the 19-year-old Llanto told Cebu Daily News, “I’ll give my best in the pair category and I’m sure my pair will, too. But the category is new to the both of us since this is our first time to be paired with each other and both of us don’t usually play in this category.”
Llanto, a former ward of renowned Cebuano mentor Glenn Lava of the University of San Carlos (USC), will be pairing up with Kate Ardelaine Castillo in the mixed pair competition while he joins UAAP teammates Jay Galeno Buenavista and Juanito Sandoy Jr. in the men’s team category.
The uphill climb will also be steeper for Llanto since his team crosses paths with UAAP champion De La Salle University which features fellow Cebuano McAvengyr Alob.
“I think it will be a big challenge for me. But I’m excited and thrilled to face them again. Although I have doubts after learning that the two of my teammates also rested in the Christmas season, I am still very much looking forward to it since it is another chance to show coach that we can win the gold,” said Llanto.
This will be Llanto’s fifth appearance in the prestigious tournament and ever since, the young jin has not yet delivered a gold for the Maroons.
The CPJ is an important tournament for some jins since it plays a big part in the selection of players who will suit up for the Philippine National Team.
Also expected to see action in the tournament are other Cebuano teams like the University of Cebu (UC), Academia de Christifidelis, and USC.