By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Mark V. Pinggol (MVP) taekwondo gym just took their dominance to the international stage after making waves during the Heroes Taekwondo International Championship held at Assumption University in Thailand last July 1, 2023.
12 young and talented Ilonggo jins represented the MVP gym and the country during the two-day international taekwondo event and took home the overall championship in the poomsae category.
The MVP gym took home a total of 11 gold medals alongside five silvers and eight bronze medals in front of an unfamiliar territory in Thailand.
Leading the pack of the MVP jins who won the gold medal are Phoebe Margaret Capadosa, Kylie Ellise Olivares, Essence Estelle Sinoy, Hertzela Avry Sinoy, Fritzerald Encanto, Cleo Alexandria Evangelista, Eujean Ivanka Castete, and Lindsy Lorraine Degayo.
Meanwhile, those who also bagged the silver medal are Evangelista, Sophia Marie Bautista, Hertzela Sinoy, Olivares, and Alleina Nestley Gajasan.
Last but not the least, the third-placers in Thailand are Gajasan, Adrian Joseph Gajasan III, Phoebe Capadosa, Gabriel Dominic Capadosa, Essence Sinoy, and Bautista.
Just a week ago, the Iloilo MVP gym also dominated during the Philippines Taekwondo Association National Poomsae Championships held at the Ayala Malls Bay in Pasay.
After collecting 11 medals last month during the National New Face of the Year Philippine Taekwondo Championships, the prized MVP jins stepped up their game even more and hauled a total of 36 medals.
The Pinggol-mentored stars garnered a total of 14 golds, 11 silvers, and 11 bronze medals after two days of intense poomsae clash against the best of the best jins of the country.
Aside from their massive medal haul, the MVP gym also broke through the overall rankings after clinching the first runner-up in the grade-school division and the cadet division.
