By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Mark V. Pinggol (MVP) taekwondo gym made waves once again during the recently concluded Philippines Taekwondo Association National Poomsae Championships last June 24-25, 2023, 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.
Leading the pack of gold medalists are Cleo Aliyah Asumbra, Prince Ivan Dugayo, Xabriel Zia Gebucion, Amber Gale Abellar, and Fritzjerald Encanto.
Completing the list of the champions are Phil Andrew Margarico, Anthony Benedict Planta, Viene Marie Dulaca, Elisha Miela Paradero, and Justin Adrian Apura.
Meanwhile, those who delivered the silver medals are Andria Margaret Palabrica, Princess Hannah Mia Cruz, Aundrea Bliss Valencia, Calvin Avery Valencia, and Jan Emmanuelle Dayata.
Maczen Rea, Rhyden Uri Figueroa, Portia Alison Margarico, Ma. Louise Joselle Escoto, Nathan Lee Dedal, Phil Caleb Regalado, Margarette Gem Obsequio, Jenella Ashley Tionko, Cyd Edryc Esmaña, Sirch Einreb Damaolao were the bronze medal finishers.
Special mention to the list of the outstanding MVP jins is Lindsy Lorraine Degayo who ranked 22 out of the 69 competing athletes in the junior female black belt division.
