Baguio Jins hauls 8G-3S-6B Kyorugi medals in Carlos Palangca Jr. TKD Championships

Sparring is a remarkable sight when the match becomes a game of strategy, more than brawn.

In the end, Baguio City’s own Rama Chandra A. Liporada redeemed himself, besting a nemesis who handily defeated him in their first outing only a month ago.

His victory placed the final haul of Team Baguio to 8-gold, 3-silver, and 6-bronze medals in kyorugi (sparring) at the 2002 National Carlos Palangca, Jr. (CPJ) Taekwondo Championships.

The CPJ is an exclusive gathering of previous medal winners in national and international tournaments.

At 5:30PM, October 9, 2022, all eyes were at Court No. 2, the atrium, Ayala Malls by the Bay.

The second match in the finals of the seniors’ male category was on its way.

While the sun was setting in the horizon, tensions were running high between the two athletes.

On one corner is Liporada, the last gold medal hope of Baguio. He too dons the colors of the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

On the other, veteran internationalist and Philippine Team mainstay Dexian Chavez, also of National University, stood with quiet confidence.

It is the second time they are scraping for flyweight (-58kgs.) supremacy.

In their first outing at the 45th National Taekwondo Championships last September, Chavez quelled the younger Liporada in two rounds.

Liporada then settled for bronze. Chavez eventually settled for silver, after bowing out to the towering Aljen Aynaga of UST.

As expected, Chavez steamrolled his opponents earlier on.

On the other hand, Liporada threaded the needle en route to the finals, winning over Aynaga, University of the Philippines stalwart Vincent Aaron Yango, and former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 Most Valuable Player Lawrence Borres of Far Eastern University.

With eight matches between them, Liporada and Chavez battled from the get-go.

The hits were crunching; the game, cerebral.

When the dust settled, Liporada’s well-timed adjustments and newfound game maturity elevated him to being the “best of the best” in the country… until the next national tussle.

In the distaff side of the seniors’ category, Baguio Defenders Gym’s Nayeli Quianna R. Sumadchat (fin) and UST jin Realis D. Tabiando (feather), each settled for bronze.

During the first day of hostilities, October 8, 2022, Chris Levi P. Culallad (welter) and Kamille Faith Revelina  L. Calaycay (middle-heavy) each bagged gold medals in the juniors’ male and female tilt, respectively.

Justin Paul S. Atienza (middleweight) and Ashley L. Diaz (bantam) settled for bronze.

Meantime in male cadet, Joshua Aaron E. Erece (feather), Zashter Khaine A. Mendoza (bantam), and Jun Adrian M. Wagtingan (welter) carted three gold medals in the boys’ category, while Rihannah Kate B. Caguioa (feather) snatched lone gold for the girls.

Aithan E. Ogoy (light), Kaden Cassidy C. Mendoza (bantam) and Caitlin Brooke S. Atienza (lt. middle to middle) settled for silver, while Rolyn Matthew M. Salay (fin-fly) and Zayn Ashley Segun (feather) grabbed a bronze medal each.

Alexandria Daphnie Aganon (Light-Middle to Heavy) garnered lone gold in the girls’ grade school contest. PIO