MANILA, Philippines — Veterans Patrick King Perez, Veronica Garces and Jubilee Briones will banner the strong Smart/MVPSF Philippine taekwondo team that will see action in both the Chuncheon Korea Open and Daegu World University Championships in South Korea on July 5-14.
Aside from the three – part of the 12-player team that took part in last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games in China – the Philippine Taekwondo Association said 32 other Filipino jins will vie for supremacy in both poomsae (forms) and kyorugi (free sparring) events.
The PTA is confident the team will perform prominently in the event especially Perez, who distinguished himself as the country’s first medal winner – bronze in poomsae – in last year’s Asiad.
David Cea, who is fighting in the -74kg, will lead the men’s team in free sparring along with Kent John Ilde Banzon (-54kg), Melbourne Johnroyce Jerome Lustado (-58kg) Dex Ian Chavez (-63kg), Legolas Penaredondo (-63kg), Study Jay Gilbuena, Mythaious Angelous Francois Lustado (-55kg), Lhord Jared Patrick Pasaron (-65kg), Nusair Lao (-75kg), Justin Mark Agno (-80kg) and Israel Cantos (-87kg).
Garces (-49kg) and Briones (-62kg) will be joined by Baby Jessica Canabal (-53kg), Clarence Sarza (-46kg), Rryshel Jasmine Ramirez (-46kg), Tachiana Keizha Mangin (-49kg), Merica Lillyn Chan (-57kg) and Rhiyanne Agatha Shay Cadilena (-46kg).
Other members of the men’s poomsae squad are Rodolfo Reyes Jr., Ian Matthew Corton, King Nash Alcairo, Darius Venerable, Justin Kobe Macario, Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape, and Joaquin Dominic Tuzon.