Manalo stuns Rivero in taekwondo tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Camille Manalo, a former Philippine training pool member from the University of Santo Tomas, shocked two-time Olympian Toni Rivero of Ateneo to win the welterweight gold medal in the recent Smart/Petron CPJ (Carlos Palanca Jr.) taekwondo championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Manalo, 18, nipped Athens and Beijing Olympic veteran Rivero via sudden-death after they had fought to a 2-2 tie at the end of two rounds.

“Both Toni and Camille delivered a kick each, but Camille’s shot proved to be more telling,” said an official.

Another former training pool member, UST flyweight Caryn Pilongo, also pulled off a surprise by beating national player Sugar Catalan of UP-Diliman.

Another Athens and Beijing Olympian, Tshomlee Go of the Air Force, bagged the bantamweight gold at the expense of UE’s Jeffrey Figueroa.

The other gold medalists in the senior women’s division were Jyra Lizardo, fin, Karla Alava, bantam, Ashiel Verdana, feather, Marifi Gadit, light, and Elaine Alora, middle-heavy.

Other gold winners in the senior men’s division were Paul John Lizardo, fin, Mark Dizon, fly, Manuel Rivero, feather, Butch Morisson, light, Marlon Avenido, welter, Anthony Soriano, middle, and Alexander Briones, heavy.

Top spots in the poomsae competition went to the following:

Dustin Jacob Mella, junior men, Shaneen Sia, junior women, Jonathan Rilloraza, 1st senior men A, Arnold Oglayon, 1st senior men B, Rani Ann Ortega, 1st senior women A, Melvin Morte, 2nd senior men, Edrick Galing, 1st master men, Robert Danao, 2nd master men, JP Sabido/Rani Ann Ortega, 1st pair, Arnold Oglayon/Jeordan Dominguwz/Jonathan Rilloraza, 1st team men, and Mike Zulueta, Ceasar Mateo/Mon Abejero, 2nd team men.

Winners in the other events:

Gradeschool girls - Alexa Rabina, Olympia, Group 1, Yuri Ezra Murillo, Laguna DepEd, Gp 2, Margarite Luteria, Olympia, Gp 3, Zia Baluyot, D’Club, Gp 4, Patricia Gonzales, OTTC, Gp 5, Jamie Rosette Exconde, Valnzuela City, Gp 6.

Gradeschool girls - Bermylle Razon, Valenzuela, Gp 1, Monsour Salazar, Baguio, Gp 2, Joshua David, Las Piñas, Gp 3, Erick Evangelista, Cavite, Gp 4, Charles Claro, Power Kick, Gp 5, Joel Alejandro, Meycauayan, Gp 6.

Junior men - Tristan Avelino, D’Club, fin, Kirk Barbosa, LSGH, fly, James Ruiz de Luzuriaga, Zobel, bantam, Jude Solis, Pio del Pilar, feather, Rjay del Rosario, UST, light, John Paul Garcia, UST, welter, Gerry del Rosario, UST, light-middle, Justine Froi de Jesus, DPS, middle, Ron Servita, Region 1, light-heavy, Antony Sania, UE, heavy.

Junior women - Alyssa Bonifacio, Batangas, fin, Leigh Nuguid, Silang, fly, Ynah Bonifacio, Batangas, bantam, Korinan Natura, Baguio, feather, Mary Apriel Solimen, Baguio, Bianca Go, Powerflex, welter, Ynah Langit, SSC, light-middle, Paola Karolina Amon, Elizabeth Seton, middle, Charlene Casia, UE, light-heavy, Charlene Virtudazo, Central, heavy.