"We’re always optimistic that we have that chance to complete a sweep of all the 16 gold medals at stake," said RP taekwondo team coach Stephen Fernandez, aware of the recent vow made by no less than Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) president Robert Aventajado that the Filipino jins can pull off a 16-gold medal romp in the Nov. 27 to Dec. 5 biennial meet.
"The record to beat though in taekwondo is eight gold medals."
The Filipinos did just that during the 1991 Manila SEA Games when the celebrated Roberto Cruz led the RP jins to the overall title of the event.
Fernandez believes such number of gold medals this time is enough for them to repeat the same feat they achieved 14 years ago.
"Taekwondo is a contact sport that’s no one can tell what would happen during the bouts. But it’s not impossible for our players to win medals and the most that they can win is eight," said the 1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist in the PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila, where he was joined by Cruz, now a member of the RP coaching staff, and charming jin Veronica Domingo.
The 26-year old Domingo, a back-to-back SEA Games gold medalist in 2001 (Kuala Lumpur) and 2003 (Vietnam) is back with the national team after suffering an injury. Previously campaigning in the lightweight category, she moves up a notch higher this time at the welterweight class.
"I have to do it (move up in weight) dahil bumigat na rin ako," said Domingo, who began campaigning in the welterweight class when the team competed in a tournament in Jordan this year.
Aside from Domingo, others making it to the distaff side of the RP squad include Sally Solis (heavyweight), Criselda Roxas (middleweight), Olympian Toni Rivero (lightweight), Elaine Alora (featherweight), Ester Marie Singson (bantamweight), Lorraine Catalan (flyweight) and Eunice Alora (finweight).
The men’s team is composed of Athens Olympics veteran Tshomlee Go (bantamweight), Donnie Geisler (lightweight), Michael Alejandrino (heavyweight), Dax Morfe (middleweight), Alex Briones (welterweight), JR
Rivero/Brix Ramos (featherweight), Jeffrey Figueroa (flyweight) and John Paul Lizardo/Carlos Padilla (finweight).
Fernandez said traditional powerhouse Malaysia and Vietnam still loom as the top bets to crowd out the country for the overall title.