St. Benilde sweeps NCAA taekwondo

MANILA, Philippines - College of Saint Benilde completed a sweep of the men’s and women’s championships to cap its domination of the NCAA taekwondo tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan last weekend.

Led by welterweight NCAA MVP Ronnel Arvin Yadao, the Blazers snapped San Beda College’s three-year reign by collecting 327 points to annex their fourth men’s crown overall. The Red Lions finished second with 233.3 points.

In the women’s side, the Lady Blazers, led by MVP bantamweight Inna Izzabella Dionisio, reigned supreme for second straight season with a 323.3-point haul. The Lady Red Jins, who won the event in 2010-11, had 232.6 points to finish second.

Aside from Dionisio, other St. Benilde gold medal winners were flyweight Iyra Tindoc, featherweight Ma. Isabella Mora, lightweight Kiela Montinola, welterweight Karla Ramos and middle/heavyweight Charlene Virtudazo.

In juniors play, San Sebastian bagged its first-ever championship as the Staglets dethroned the Mandaluyong-based La Salle Greenies with a total of 257 points.

CSB-La Salle Greenhills, which ruled the tournament for four years, wound up second with 223 points.

San Sebastian’s Christopher Maru bagged the MVP honors.

In the demonstration poomsae event, San Sebastian topped four of five events with St. Benilde winning the other gold.