Members of coach Glenn Lava’s STAR Taekwondo team pose with their parents after the awarding ceremony of the 2016 National Poomsae Taekwondo Championships at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City last Sunday.
Cebu team bags nine gold medals in National Poomsae Taekwondo Championships
Though nowhere near to their 16-gold medal haul last year, Cebuano jins from the S.T.A.R. Taekwondo Gym still managed to show off in the 2016 National Poomsae Taekwondo Championships held last Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The jins of coach Glenn Lava performed their synchronized forms impressively, earning for them a total of nine gold medals in nine different categories to finish second place behind a team from Baguio.
“Though only nine and short than last year’s 16, it was nevertheless well-earned as the players gave it their all,” Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) Region 7 head Tony del Prado told Cebu Daily News.
Among the Cebuanos who dominated were the duo of Maegan Bugarin and Moses Bulicer, who ruled the seniors pair freestyle event in the tournament participated by poomsae jins from different teams around the country.
Aidane Laxa, who snatched a gold in last February’s Carlos J. Palanca national selection tournament, reaffirmed her status as one of the best poomsae jins in the country, landing first place in the female freestyle individual competition. She snared one more gold in the junior female team event with Lee Robie Gayle Navales and Nichole Maurin.
Johann Concepcion and Nohea de la Fuente also delivered big for the Cebuanos as they won in the pair cadet category.
NEW BREED
Newcomers also provided help for Cebu City as they bagged six golds in the tournament.
Chia Besañes, Shane Nasayao and Quincy Faye Asilo gave the Cebuanos a big lift as they each collared a gold in the color belt individual event.
“We saw the emergence of these new batch of poomsae athletes from Cebu and competing along with their experienced teammates gave them the much-needed exposure and confidence in events such as this,” Del Prado said.
In the color belt team category, Besañes again teamed up with Germaine Besañes and Jamie Morales to snare the gold.
The Cebuanos finished the tilt with a total of six silvers and seven bronzes in the tournament organized by the PTA.