By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo Mark V. Pinggol (MVP) taekwondo gym once again impressed on the national scene after dominating in the 2023 PTA National CPJ Taekwondo Kyorugi and Poomsae Championships held at the Ayala Malls in Pasay.
After making waves during the 2023 Dinagyang Taekwondo Championships where the widely-renowned gym raked the championship titles in the Grade school & Toddlers division of the kyorugi category, the Iloilo MVP gym shook off fatigue issues and stole the limelight during the PTA-sanctioned event.
The Pinggol-led taekwondo squad garnered a total of nine medals: one gold, three silvers, and five bronze medals after the two-day event.
Sheine Nicole De Asis was the lone gold medalist during the national event after reigning supreme in the Cadet Female Light Middleweight division.
The silver medalists who brought pride to Region VI were Cyd Edryc Esmaña, Justin Adrian Apura, and Andria Margaret Palabrica.
Lastly, Julianna Martha Uy, Niesha Kariz Pequierda, Esmaña, Apura, and Palabrica managed to settle for the third-place finish.
The trio of Esmaña, Uy, and Pequierda joined hands to represent the Iloilo MVP gym in the Team Juniors that won bronze.
Meanwhile, the pairing of Apura and Palabrica won the silver medal in the Mixed Pair Cadet category.
Special mentions who also made it into the elimination rounds of the tournament were Samantha Gayle Go and Phil Caleb Regalado who participated in the Cadet Division welterweight category and the Cadet Male Division, respectively.
Currently, the Iloilo MVP gym is still wrapping up its preparations for the upcoming list of national and international competitions in the coming months.
