Lucena, Batangas split t’kwondo honors

Host Lucena split the taekwondo honors with Batangas in the Summer Sports at SM supermalls with both teams winning five gold medals each at the close of the two-day competitions at SM Lucena last weekend.

Kylle Calayan beat John Ackim Jacela of Tayabas to rule Group 4 while Ted Echevarria topped Group 5 by beating another Tayabas bet Brian Paredes to spark Lucena’s five-gold romp in the tournament, part of a series of summer sports activities hosted by the SM supermalls.

Also winning for Lucena were Kevin Jamin (Group 6), Christian Tangayod (Group 7) and Vincent Panopio (Group 8).

Eric Enriquez, on the other hand, bested Kit Riley Torres in Group I to kick off Batangas’ surge in the event serving as the start of an 11-stage taekwondo competitions held under the auspices of the Philippine Taekwondo Association and organized by the International Management Group.

Eugene Torres beat John Michael Opricio to win the gold in Group 2; Gean Untalan ruled Group 3 by disposing of Aaron Mejia; Jaxel Gilera won the gold in Group 9 with a victory over Pio Ong; while Jigger Gilera topped Group 10 by prevailing over Henry Mejia.

The next stop of the tournament, for grade and high school, will be at the SM Bacoor this weekend with SM Bicutan taking its turn on March 30-31.