The Petron National Taekwondo Team flies to Hong Kong today to compete in the 14th Asian championships set May 10-17.
According to Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert N. Aventajado, the event which serves as the final tuneup for the Sydney Olympic Games has lured 30 to 35 countries.
PTA vice president and delegation head Sung Chon Hong banks on Olympic qualifiers Robert Cruz, Donald Geisler, Eva Marie Ditan and Jasmin Strachan to spark a successful bid by the RP bets, whose trip is sponsored by Petron, Adidas and the Philippine Sports Commission.
The other RP bets are Kalindi Tamayo, Daleen Cordero, Ma. Angelita Bautista, Camela Albino, Margarita Bonifacio, Sally Solis, Tshomlee Go, Rodolfo Abratique Jr., Jefferthom Go, Alvin Taraya, Alessandro Lubiano and Dax Alberto Morfe.
Two years ago in Vietnam, the RP team won three medals in the Asian tilt -- a silver by Ma. Nelia Sy and a bronze each by Lubiano and Jasmin Strachan.
Meanwhile, four Batangas bets in the senior men's and women's divisions -- flyweight Ana Marifel Dimacuha, bantam Ma. Enrika Uy, finweight John Earl Abante and flyweight Albert Cusi -- emerged among the outstanding winners in the Petron New Face of the Year tourney held Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The other top senior performers were Army's Loraine Loelie Catalan (fin), Pampanga's Leila Kuzma (feather) and Gensan's Cyrus Lobaton (middle).
Those who shone in the junior group were Central Gym's Esther Ma. Singson (middle), Zamboanga's Kharzma Handang (fin/fly), Bulacan's Jose Alberto Villavisa (feather), Ateneo's Ronald delos Reyes (welter) and NBC-Cavite's John Mark Ricamata (middle/heavy).