By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Iloilo elementary and secondary taekwondo teams dominated during the recently concluded Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) sports meet and were hailed as the overall champions last April 23-30, 2023, held in St. Gabriel College in Kalibo, Aklan.
All the hard work and the intense training camp paid off for the prestigious Ilonggo jins after raking the titles in Elementary Boys’ poomsae and kyorugi, Elementary Girls’ poomsae and kyorugi, high school boys’ poomsae and kyorugi, and high school girls’ poomsae and kyorugi categories.
With the convincing WVRAA campaign, team Iloilo garnered a total of 37 medals off 30 golds, four silvers, and three bronze medals.
The Iloilo delegation was composed of the champion jins that were able to win in the Integrated Meet, ILOPRISAA, and the Dual Meet.
Despite the long travel all the way from the City of Love, the selected Ilonggo jins shrugged off fatigue issues and remained consistent with their high-level taekwondo performance.
Team Iloilo received a tough challenge from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Negros but the Ilonggos still found a way to rise in the occasion.
PTA coaches that supervised the champion jins are Alan Diasnes, Mark V. Pinggol, Flora Navales, Christer Jan Gersanib, and Alfie Diasnes.
Meanwhile, Angelo Osayda, Rem Carreon, Remi Anne Ayalin, Rodito Jaurigue, Wrister Defensor, and Adriano Horlador also helped out in the different categories.
The Department of Education coaches that guided the team were Nova Tacagson, Bena Sumagaysay, and Jeremae Bayasca.
Job is not done for team Iloilo as they will go back to training camp for the 2023 Palarong Pambansa to be held in Marikina City from July 29-August 5, 2023.
