Tacurong Taekwondo Team declared overall champion in regional tournament

(November 16, 2012) Tacurong Taekwondo Team bagged the overall championship trophy in the Kalimudan Festival Regional Inter-School Taekwondo Championships held on November 10 at the Capitol Gym of Sultan Kudarat.

The team amassed a total of 35 medals comprising 17 golds, 11 silvers, and 7 bronzes. The medal tally was an improvement to the previous 30 medals that the team had won when they participated in another regional tournament held in Glan, Sarangani last month.

The gold medalists were: Renzel Anating (VMC City College-Elementary), Alexi Bañas (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School – TPES), Jeriel Clarito (Notre Dame Siena College of Tacurong), Jasmine Angela Forro (Notre Dame of Tacurong College-NDTC), Kim Sheena Iwag (ND Siena), Kenji Charles Lapuz (TPES), Krishna Paula Magbanua (Jean Piaget LC), Ivan Malicudio (Ma. Montilla Elementary School), Florence Anne Mogan (ND Siena), and Kean Samuel Momay (Methodist Learning Center).

The following taekwondo jins completed the gold medal haul for the team: Andrea Camille Origenes (Jean Piaget Learning Center), Daisy Mae Ortile (TPES), Maxine Jayne Palpalatoc (TPES), Dan Francis Posadas (St. John Learning Center), Keansean Tasic (TPES), Mary Angeli Yap (NDTC), and Paulo Caluya (NDTC).

Eleven athletes competed for the gold medal games but lost and settled for silver medals. They were: Algruine Cabras (St. Benedict Learning Center), Carlos Diaz (St. John LC), Albeth Demapiles (Tacurong National High School-TNHS), John Daniel Espino (Methodist Learning School), Aaliyah Freno (TPES), Noel Chris Laforteza (TNHS), Zayton Mamasalido (TPES), Ginalyn Montemayor (ND Siena), Neejamah Jehan Ulangkaya (TPES), Genaiza Señorin (NDTC), and Reanold Navarro (NDTC).

Meanwhile, the taekwondo jins who won bronze medals included: Reyan Mae Callao (Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology), Alfredo de Tomas (NDTC), Nikoshi Gale Lapuz (TPES), Charles Naecolt Saavedra (NDTC), Jomer Sotto (St. John LC), Kimseajn Tasic (TPES), and Yves Rhey Vidal (OSY).

During the flag ceremony of the City Government of Tacurong on Monday, November 12, the medalists received congratulatory recognition from the city officials and employees. Charles Naecolt Saavedra, the team’s instructor/coach, also presented to Mayor Lina Montilla the overall championship trophy that they won in the tournament.

The players were very happy to receive praises with their recent accomplishment. They were also elated to shake hands with the mayor during the recognition ceremony. Mary Angeli Yap, one of the gold medalists, said that her body pain from the tough tournament seemed to suddenly vanish once she had shaken hands with the mayor.

City Councilor and Taekwondo Coordinator Rodrigo Jamorabon, in his message during the recognition ceremony, said that the team is grateful to the continued support of the city government to the taekwondo discipline. He also thanked the 601^st Brigade of Philippine Army, through Col. Edmundo Pangilinan and Capt. Alex Escalante, who provided transportation to the players who competed in the recent competition.

The latest feat of the city’s Taekwondo Team is a good momentum to ride on especially so that Tacurong is scheduled to host a Mindanao-wide taekwondo tournament on November 24. (Allan Freno)