UE, La Salle bets rule Samsung jr t’kwondo

University of the East’s Rotrice Ashlie Lavalan and Gernelyn Aranzanso of La Salle stamped their class over their respective rivals to top the women’s junior division of the Samsung Best of the Best National Taekwondo Championships even as flyweight Jason Sinoy of General Santos dominated the men’s side before a big Sunday crowd at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

The 14-year-old Lavalan, a blackbelter and gold medallist in the fifth Korean Open, sustained the momentum of her 3-0 rout of Ma. Abigail Rustria in the semis and rolled to 7-4 victory over Cristina Faye Ongpin of Clarkfield to claim the finweight crown, while Aranzanso, 17, and gold medal winner in the World Hwarang Championships, seized control early and clobbered Monica Dianelo, also of Clarkfield, 8-4, to bag the flyweight title.

Cathy Jane Hampac of Zamboanga trounced AIDA’s Kristie Jane Manapsal, 6-4; Rubylin Mapa of the NTU Tigers ripped Kathleen Roble of Cagayan, 6-2; while Elmie Rose Baradas nipped Jessica Joy Ballesteros of Cavite, 3-2, to win the flyweight, lightweight and featherweight crowns, respectively, at the close of the five-day event sponsored by top electronics firm Samsung and sanctioned by the Philippine Taekwondo Association.

Sheena Mae Perlas of AIDA and Kathleen Valenzuela of Bulacan took the two other crowns staked in the 14-17 years-old division as they beat Russelle Jean Zamora of NTU Tigers, 4-3, and Jan Ross Pacquing of Las Piñas, 9-5, to win the welterweight and middleweight titles, respectively.

Sinoy, on the other hand, flaunted awesome form to down Vishnu Catarig of Muntinlupa, 11-5, and lead the winners in men’s side of the tournament. They included UST’s Giorgio von Gerri de Guzman, the 16-year-old mainstay of the national team, who edged Dennis Resaba of UE, 4-2, to top the bantamweight division; Edison Bagaipo, who took the finweight crown at the expense of Raffy Futolan of RPTC, who was disqualified after receiving 8 warnings for 4-pt deduction; Jurrie Bernardino of UST, who outhit Benedict Polloso of Rizal HS, 5-4, for the featherweight crown.

Archie Antonio nipped Jehu Inciong, 7-6, to claim the welterweight crown while Kervin Ong of Bulacan fashioned out a 6-1 romp over Arvie Antonio to reign supreme in the middleweight class.

Meanwhile, matches in the grade school category, featuring kids aged 13 years and below, were still being played at presstime. Those fighting for the gold medal were John Paul Tomarse of Cebu and Michael Telequido of NTU Tigers (Group 1); Rannie Mercado of Powerhaus and Isaiah James Raterta of UPIS (Group 2); Clint John Ferrer of Meycauayan and Kirk Barbosa of Tiptop (Group 3); Hansel Gregorio of Olympia and Gyle Michael Genoso of ISM (Group 4); Mark Dizon of Ateneo and Lorenzo Lopez-Medina of Art’s Plus (Group 5); Ashler Lev Espana of Rizal HS and Nino Patrick Ferrer of Pangasinan (Group 6);

Danielle Marie Singson of DPS and Winastrid Hannah Lantajo of Butuan (Group 1) head the finalists in the girls side of the tournament backed by Alaska, Bacchus, IBC-13, Accel, Colours, The STAR, Ayala Center and Solar Sports. Others vying for top honors were Geena Mae Gadit of Bulacan and Justine Magdamit of CSA (Group 2); Alyssa Bianca Bonifacio of Batangas and Jyra Lizardo of DPS (Group 3).