RP jins close out stint with 3 more defeats

MADRID – The RP-Petron taekwondo team wrapped up its campaign in the World Championships with three more setbacks as Ernesto Mendoza, Manuel Rivero and Lorelie Catalan succumbed to their respective rivals at the close of the event at the Palacio De Deportes here Sunday.

Mendoza dropped a close 5-8 decision to fancied Mark Anthony Lopez, younger brother of two-time Olympic champion Stephen; Rivero did make it to the quarterfinals only to yield the match to Korean champion Jae Sik-kim, 8-10; while Catalan lost in a sudden death match (via superiority) to Brazilian Nunes Debora.

The rest of the RP contingent, which included Olympians Antoinette Rivero and Tshomlee Go, had earlier dropped their matches as the Philippines got shutout in the biennial event which lured the best and finest jins in the world.

Still, Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) officials said they were satisfied with the jins performances, stressing the experience and exposure will surely put them in good stead against their rivals in the coming Southeast Asian Games.

"Overall, it’s a very good performance. Considering the level of competition here, our athletes played very well. We lost the matches, but all are very close. Breaks just didn’t go our side this time," said PTA vice president Sung Chun Hong.

"Some of the powerhouse teams like Canada and Venezuela failed to win a medal. Tayo natalo rin pero nakita nilang hindi tayo pipitsugin, puro close fight ang decision," said team manager Noli Gabriel.

The Filipinos will next participate in the Korean Open in June.